Two days ago, the COP30 Climate Change Conference officially commenced in Belém, Brazil. In his opening address, Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, cautioned the global community that “it will never be forgiven if the world community fails to act.” One of the summit’s initial challenges has been the approval of an extensive agenda with over 100 topics, including climate finance, forest protection, and national priorities from countries across the world.
This year’s COP is being hosted in Belém, located at the edge of the Amazon — a vital ecosystem spread across nine countries, home to 35 million people, and often described as the “green lungs of the Earth.” Spanning seven million square kilometres, the Amazon plays an essential role in global climate regulation. However, recent studies highlight an alarming trend: 35% of the forest has already been degraded or cleared, pushing the region dangerously close to an irreversible tipping point.
Social mobilisation has been strong. Yesterday, Indigenous communities staged a protest at the COP entrance, causing minor damage. Today, nearly 100 boats of the “Climate Justice Flotilla,” carrying 5,000 Indigenous activists and forest defenders, arrived in Belém to join the People’s Summit at the University of Pará. With over 10,000 civil society participants expected, the gathering is united in its call to protect nature and safeguard the rights of traditional peoples.
On 10 November 2025, an Interfaith Gathering in the Spirit of Talanoa Dialogue was held at one of the first programs of COP30. More than 100 members of diverse faith communities met at the Lutheran Church in Belém to address climate challenges through advocacy, mobilisation, capacity building, and education. The Talanoa Dialogue framework — guided by the questions “Where are we? Where do we want to go? And how do we get there?” — provided a shared foundation for exploring pathways toward climate justice.
The session began with welcome messages from Pastor Romeu of the Lutheran Church in Belém, a Spiritual Moment conducted by Sister Maureen, who led participants into moments of silence “where the seeds of peace lie,” and an introduction by Rev. Henrik Grape from the Interfaith Liaison Committee. Participants later formed breakout groups in English, Portuguese, Spanish, and online spaces to continue deeper discussions.
The COP Climate Wisdom Studio also returned for its third year, broadcasting live from Belém. The first of eleven sessions, held on 10 November, centred on the theme Ethics for Climate Finance and offered thoughtful exchanges with COP30 delegates.
On Tuesday, 11 November, the official UNFCCC side event “Ethics and Faith Transforming Community, National and Global Climate Action” brought together representatives from diverse faith traditions. Speakers included Keith Runyan (Quaker Earthcare Witness), Maureen Goodman (Brahma Kumaris), João Carlos dos Santos (Soka Amazon Institute), Moderator Flore Ghetti (Soka Gakkai International), Rae Thomas (Legal Counsel, Grenada Delegation), and Lindsey Fielder Cook (Quaker United Nations Office).
Maureen Goodman delivered the key reflection of the event, sharing the insight that “what is within is reflected without.” She explained the Brahma Kumaris’ “spiritual trajectory”: Awareness → Attitude → Vision → Action → Culture → World, emphasising that ethics and conscience must anchor all climate decision-making. She described this approach as “sacred activism” — action rooted in love, respect, and compassion for all life.
In another parallel session, the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) hosted a side event in the Solar Hub titled Powering Buildings of Tomorrow: Scaling Renewable Interventions. Golo Joachim was invited to speak and shared several innovative green initiatives from Brahma Kumaris campuses, including renewable energy projects, waste management strategies, biogas technology, and yogic farming.
