Amazon Summit Falls Short of Climate Goals, Despite Historic Location
Belém, Brazil – November 17, 2023 – The first-ever UN climate summit hosted in the Amazon rainforest concluded today with limited progress on key commitments, despite the symbolic importance of centering the global climate crisis within the world’s most vital ecosystem. The week-long talks in Belém aimed to forge a unified strategy to protect the Amazon and accelerate climate action, but fell short of delivering concrete financial pledges or a clear roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels.
The choice of the Amazon as the location for the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) pre-meeting was deliberate, intended to spotlight the urgent need to protect the rainforest – a critical carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot – and to amplify the voices of Indigenous communities on the front lines of climate change. While the summit successfully raised the profile of Amazonian issues, observers and activists expressed disappointment at the lack of ample outcomes, particularly regarding funding for forest conservation and adaptation measures for vulnerable populations.The outcome underscores the ongoing challenges of translating global climate ambitions into tangible action, even when convened within the heart of the crisis itself.
The summit, officially a preparatory meeting for COP28 in Dubai later this month, brought together representatives from eight amazonian nations – Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela – alongside international delegates. A key focus was the “Belém Declaration,” a pledge to halt deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. However, the declaration lacks specific enforcement mechanisms and relies heavily on voluntary commitments from individual countries.
“We came here hoping for a strong signal that the world recognizes the Amazon’s crucial role in regulating the climate,” said marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of Surroundings and Climate Change, during a press conference. “While the declaration is a step forward, it’s not enough. We need concrete financial support and a binding framework to ensure its implementation.”
One of the most contentious issues was the call for a substantial increase in climate finance for developing countries, particularly those in the Amazon region. Amazonian nations have long argued that they require notable financial assistance from wealthier countries to implement lasting progress policies and protect their forests. Discussions on establishing a new collective, quantified goal for climate finance beyond 2025 – a key demand of developing nations – were largely deferred to the COP28 negotiations in Dubai.
Indigenous leaders,who played a prominent role in the summit,voiced frustration over the lack of meaningful consultation and the continued prioritization of economic interests over environmental protection. “We are the guardians of the forest, and our voices must be heard,” stated Sônia Guajajara, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples. “We need recognition of our rights and direct access to funding to support our conservation efforts.”
Despite the disappointing outcome,the Belém summit served as a crucial platform for raising awareness about the Amazon’s plight and fostering dialog between regional and international stakeholders. The pressure will now shift to COP28, where negotiators will face the challenge of translating the commitments made in Belém into concrete actions and securing the financial resources needed to protect the Amazon and address the global climate crisis.
