Brazil's Environment And Climate Minister Meets Over 200 Global Climate Activists At Renewable Energy Event

Brasilia - Brazilian Environment and Climate Change Minister, Marina Silva took part in the final day of the ‘Renew Our Power’ event. The meeting organised by 350.org brought together more than 200 climate leaders from over 70 countries to Brazil with the aim of driving forward the renewable energy transition, a strategic milestone towards COP30.

This year, Minister Marina Silva is leading an organisation proposed by Brazilian President Lula called the ‘Global Ethical Balance’. According to the Brazilian government, this initiative will ‘promote dialogues in different regions of the world to reflect on how to align decisions with the non-negotiable goal of keeping global warming to 1.5°C.’ This year, during the Free Land Camp (ATL), Indigenous groups from the Amazon rainforest and the Pacific Ocean declared that "Indigenous and traditional community leadership, the just energy transition, direct financing and the integral preservation of forests, oceans and soils, is the starting point for any discussion on the Global Ethical Balance.

Marina Silva's visit to the event today came days after dozens of the activists staged a peaceful protest with a giant banner made by the artist Mundano with ashes from Amazon wildfires to the doors of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty Palace). Activists from the Pacific and around the globa called for Brazil's leadership at COP30 towards a just renewable energy transition.

Marina Silva, Brazil's Environment Minister, said:

"We have to think about the root of the climate problem. Does anyone still not know that the root of the problem is the use of fossil fuels? Everyone knows that, it was even agreed at COP28 - now it's implement, implement, implement.

If we never plan, if we don't make a road map, if we don't set targets, if we continue to use fossil fuels, we won't be able to move forward. In 2025 we'll meet in Belém and we've already decided that given the imminence of the point of no return of the climate crisis, we're going to implement what we've discussed over the last few decades."

Marina Silva also spoke about the importance of implementing the renewable energy transition with traditional and Indigenous peoples at the forefront;

"Science can anticipate a lot, but we usually only consider the science of Western knowledge. There is another science, that of narrative knowledge, of ancestral knowledge, which says the same thing, but with a difference: it says it and does it. It does so because its experience is consistent with what it says. So I want COP30 to also be a space for learning.

What we need is a new perspective. It may sound dreamy, but it's the only thing that will save us. It's a good thing we have good teachers."

George Nacewa, Pacific Climate Warrior and 350.org community organizer from Fiji:

“This is a critical time for our people; the age of deliberation is long past. We need this year’s COP to be the one that spearheads the Just Renewable Energy Transition from words to action. It is now up to the Brazil COP Presidency if they heed the Indigenous and traditional climate leadership we have seen and heard in these last weeks, or lock us into climate catastrophe.”

Cassidhe Mahuka, Pacific Climate Warrior says,

“We are being heard. We made it clear at the Acampamento Terra Livre that the Pacific Climate Warriors will stand with the peoples of the Amazon. We were clear in our demands of the COP30 President that there needs to be a fair and just transition to renewable energy that respects indigenous peoples. I hope Minister Silva’s presence here today is a clear commitment to act.”

Dylan Kava for Pacific Islands Climate Action Network says,

“Pacific peoples have long stood at the frontlines of climate impacts—and the frontlines of resistance. The Indigenous Troika launched at COP29 marked a powerful moment of unity between the Pacific, the Amazon, and Indigenous peoples everywhere, understanding that our bond goes deeper than solidarity, we are relatives in resistance. A just transition to renewables cannot happen without us—without land defenders, ocean guardians, and the traditional knowledge systems that have sustained our regions for generations. We welcome Minister Silva’s engagement and call on the COP30 Presidency to match words with action by centering Indigenous and frontline communities in every decision.”

Olivia Baro for Pacific Conference of Churches says,

“At the Pacific Conference of Churches, we declare that climate change is a crisis of justice. It is not just a threat to our islands, it is a threat to our dignity, our identity, and our right to exist. A just transition is not an option; it is a matter of survival, safety, and wellbeing. We call on global leaders to immediately phase out fossil fuels, recognising that any delay further deepens our crisis. This gathering has been an opportunity to reclaim our power in our traditional knowledge, uplifting resilience practices passed down by our ancestors, and fostering new pathways for climate justice through multi-stakeholder collaboration rooted in faith, justice, and solidarity.”

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