BRICS and COP30: Dilemmas and Opportunities for Climate and Nature Financing
On May 23, 2025, the BRICS Policy Center and the Igarapé Institute held the webinar “BRICS and COP30: Dilemmas and Opportunities for Climate and Nature Financing” bringing together experts, government representatives, civil society, and academia to discuss the challenges and opportunities that BRICS countries face regarding climate financing and biodiversity protection, in preparation for COP30, which will be hosted in Brazil later this year.
The first session, moderated by the Director of the BRICS Policy Center, Prof. Marta Fernández, and Laura Trajber Waisbich from the Igarapé Institute, was titled “Climate Financing and Nature in the BRICS – Challenges and Perspectives.” The discussion featured Daniel Leitão from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Gustavo Westmann from the Secretariat for International Affairs of the Presidency of the Republic; and Walter Desiderá from IPEA. The group addressed the main obstacles faced by BRICS countries in accessing resources for climate and biodiversity, emphasizing the importance of innovative financial mechanisms and greater integration between these two agendas.
The second session, moderated by the Deputy Director of BPC, Prof. Maria Elena Rodriguez, discussed “Paths to a Unified BRICS Position at COP30.” This panel focused on the ways in which BRICS could work together in international climate negotiations, aiming to build a unified position for COP30. It also highlighted the importance of strengthening the bloc’s climate diplomacy, promoting greater alignment between national agendas and global commitments. The need to articulate common interests among developing countries was also emphasized, in order to amplify the voice of the Global South and drive a fair and inclusive transition. Participants in this discussion included Prof. Paula Sandrin from the Socioenvironmental Platform of the BRICS Policy Center, Eduardo Viola from FGV, Lucca Rizzo from the Climate and Society Institute, and Timer Manurung from Auriga Nusantara.
In the third session, moderated by BPC researcher Prof. Ana Saggioro Garcia, the focus was on “The Role of Civil Society and Academia in Climate Financing.” Speakers Priscilla Negreiros from the Climate Policy Initiative; Laura Trajber Waisbich from the Igarapé Institute; Jingwei Zhang from the Global Environmental Institute; and Srinivas Krishnaswamy from the Vasudha Foundation highlighted the importance of social participation, knowledge production, and transparency in developing effective climate financing policies. Successful examples of collaboration between different sectors of society were also presented.
The event reinforced the strategic role of the BRICS in addressing the climate crisis and highlighted the significance of COP30 as a historic opportunity to promote a new agenda of climate and environmental justice, based on international cooperation and strengthening the voices of the Global South.
Watch the full webinar through the button below: