Brazilian president receives heads of state for 2 days of debates on climate, forests and environmental financing
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) opens this Thursday (6.Nov.2025) the COP30 (United Nations Conference on Climate Change) Leaders’ Summit in Belém. The event brings together heads of state and government for 2 days to discuss global climate actions.
The official program starts at 7am with the arrival of the leaders in the blue zone. The general plenary takes place between 10:30 am and 5:30 pm. Lula will participate in all the day’s activities.
Leaders Dome
The agenda for Thursday (Nov 6) includes three main activities:
- 7h from 10h – President Lula welcomes leaders arriving in the Blue Zone;
- between 10:30 am and 5:40 pm – Lula and leaders participate in the opening of the General Plenary of Leaders and, throughout the day, each one will use the pulpit of the Plenary Hall to speak;
- from 1pm to 2:30pm – leaders participate in lunch about the TFFF (Tropical Forests Forever Fund) at the leaders’ round table;
- from 4pm to 6pm – thematic session on Climate and Nature, focusing on forests and oceans;
- from 6:15 pm to 6:30 pm – the “family” photo session takes place;
- from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm – Lula offers a cocktail to the heads of delegation.
Here is the schedule for Friday (Nov 7):
- from 8h to 10h – leaders arrive in the Blue Zone;
- from 10am – do another “family” photo session for 30 minutes;
- from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm – follows the plenary of leaders;
- from 11am to 1pm – while the leaders speak, Lula participates in the 2nd thematic session. This time about energy transition. It will be at the “Leaders Round Table”.
- from 4pm to 6:10pm – Lula participates in the 2nd and final thematic session. It will be about the 10 years of the Paris Agreement: Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Financing. Also at the “Round Table of Leaders”.
Lula is expected to give a press conference between 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, but confirmation still depends on the organization of the event.
COP30 marks 10 years of the Paris Agreement, an international treaty signed in 2015 to combat climate change. Brazil hosts the conference for the first time since ECO-92, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
Watch what is expected from the 1st day of the Leaders Summit (1min35sec):
Blue zone X green zone
COP30 divides its activities into two distinct areas:
- blue zone – is the space for official negotiations between countries, with reinforced security and restricted access to delegations accredited by the UN (United Nations). It is located in the Hangar, Convention Center, in Belém. There, diplomatic discussions and decisions on global climate policies will be held.
- green area – operates in Parque da Cidade and does not require accreditation. The space is open to the public and welcomes civil society, companies, traditional communities and young people. The area features exhibitions, workshops, debates and artistic presentations on sustainability and innovation.
Brazil prioritizes forest fund and financing
The Brazilian presidency will focus debates on two axes: climate commitments and financing. The TFFF (Tropical Forests Forever Fund) and the Paris Agreement are at the center of the discussions. Additionally, the themes will include:
- oceans;
- indigenous peoples.
This fund seeks to raise 125 billion dollars. The goal is to get 20% from countries ($25 billion) and 80% from the private sector ($100 billion) to finance conservation projects in tropical forests. The mechanism will be administered by the World Bank.
Brazil hopes to sign other commitments, such as the Belém commitment for Sustainable Fuels. The initiative has support from the International Energy Agency and includes:
- hydrogen;
- biogases;
- biofuels;
- synthetic fuels.
Japan, Italy and India showed support for the proposal.
