Speech by Minister Marina Silva at the closing plenary session of COP30

Thank you, Mr. President.

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

Today, we are concluding the journey of this COP30.

I thank and congratulate Ambassador André, Ana Toni and the entire Presidency team for their important and dedicated leadership throughout this complex process; and Simon and the Secretariat team for the organization and their tireless efforts.

I would also like to congratulate Australia, Türkiye and Ethiopia on this plenary’s decision that these friendly countries will preside over COP31 and COP32. Together with my colleague, Ambassador Maurício Lyrio, and on behalf of the Government and the people of Brazil, we extend our best wishes for success in this noble undertaking.

If we could go back in time and speak with ourselves at Rio-92, what would those earlier versions of us say when looking at today’s outcomes?

They would certainly tell us, first of all, that we dreamed of achieving much more.

That we expected the environmental transition to be faster, that science would be sufficient to drive decisions, that urgency would speak louder than any other interest.

And, looking at the outcome we have reached, and at the vast and serious challenge we must confront, they would probably repeat the words of President Lula: “I am convinced that, despite our difficulties and contradictions, we need roadmaps so that, in a just and planned manner, we can reverse deforestation, overcome dependence on fossil fuels, and mobilize the resources needed to pursue these objectives.”

Although it was not yet possible to reach consensus for this fundamental call to be included in the decisions of COP30, I am certain that the support it received from many Parties and from civil society strengthens the commitment of the current Presidency to dedicate itself to developing two roadmaps: one on halting and reversing deforestation; the other on transitioning away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly and equitable manner. Both will be guided by science and will be inclusive.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We have held this COP in the heart of the Amazon. We took an important step in recognizing the role of Indigenous Peoples, traditional communities and Afro-descendant peoples.

A just transition gained substance and voice with the presence of these groups.

We launched the TFFF, an innovative mechanism that values those who conserve and maintain tropical forests.

The text of the Global Mutirão opened an important door for advancing adaptation, with the commitment by developed countries to triple adaptation finance by 2035. This effort also included instruments to address the NDC ambition gap, such as the Global Implementation Accelerator; strengthened the alignment of NDCs with development and investment policies; and acknowledged the need to reform international mitigation finance.

One hundred and twenty-two Parties submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions, with commitments to reduce emissions by 2035. Some Parties are still missing, but these results represent fundamental gains for climate multilateralism.

Much more will be required to honor the 1.5 mission that we embraced at COP28 in Dubai.

On global instruments for adaptation, we also made progress. There are challenges, but for the first time we have a set of global adaptation indicators, which will certainly need to be improved and expanded.

In short, we have progressed — even if modestly.

Friends,

Returning to our imagined dialogue with our younger selves, I believe we can show today that, despite delays, contradictions and disputes, there is continuity between the ambition of Rio-92 and today’s effort.

That we remain capable of cooperating, of learning, and of recognizing that there are no shortcuts — and that the courage to confront the climate crisis is the result of persistence and collective effort.

But even if those earlier versions of us were to say we have not gone as far as we once imagined we would — or needed to — they would nevertheless recognize something essential: we are still here.

And we continue steadfast in our commitment to undertake the journey necessary to overcome our differences and contradictions in urgently confronting climate change.

Thank you very much for visiting our home, the heart of the planet. We may not have received you as well as you deserved, but we received you in the way we believe expresses our gesture of love for humanity and for the balance of our planet.

Thank you.