OIS students and teachers at United Nations conference in the Amazons: What can we expect for Our Future? + A special insight

By Fernanda Pecoraro and Olivia Aron

Just weeks ago, (November 10-21), a very important event happened in Belem, Brazil. It was an event that caught the world's attention. Leaders, scientists, and negotiators gathered to discuss the future of our planet and the decisions that need to be made to ensure that the world has a successful future. In this article, we’ll be going over what happened at COP30, and how the decisions made might have an impact on your day-to-day life. 

Why this region of Brazil? Its proximity to the Amazon Rainforest was intended to draw global attention to a place that has experienced many of the effects of global warming. Horrifyingly, 26% of the forest was considered deforested in 2022, and only continues to be deforested by big-scale wood companies like Cargill and BlackRock. Forests and wildlife are all factors that affect combating climate change, as the Amazon is the world’s most biodiverse rainforest and is at high risk. Whole species are in danger of going extinct, and it is immeasurable how much this could affect the world and further worsen its state. Again, this is part of the reason why this historical event attracted the attention of everyone around the world. But what was discussed at COP30, and will the consensus they achieved help the world? Well, this conference, otherwise known as the ‘implementation COP’ “Was meant to focus less on what the world can do, and more on how to make it all happen” (International Institute for Sustainable Development). Many topics were discussed, such as finance, trade measures, mitigation pathways, and other areas.  

With major commitments being discussed, the focus of this conference changed to implementation instead of brewing ideas. Negotiators are under pressure to agree on things that measure adaptation action and map out ways to improve the climate while still staying on budget 

However, this conference did not bear all the results that the public expected and came out with mixed opinions on whether enough progress was made. Communities with different expectations were divided into two, some praising the commitments and pathways introduced and others argued that their promises, despite being to accelerate the actual doing and not planning of un-changing climate change, thought they lacked urgency.  

One of the largest outcomes of COP 30 was the ongoing discussion of a process by which nations could measure how well they are meeting the climate goals set under the Paris Agreement. This assessment showed something very concerning. The world, despite everyone's best efforts, is not on track to limit warming to 1.5 Celsius above preindustrial levels. It is doomed to rise much more, and people are afraid of what this might bring to the world. In fact, according to recent studies we're heading closer to 2.8 Celsius, which is a level of warning that scientists have repeatedly warned could bring catastrophic consequences. Rising sea levels, intensified storms, mass displacement, food insecurity, and irreversible collapse of ecosystems are just a few examples, so we can see why people are worried. COP30 was pushed to confront a very difficult truth that everyone must face. They could no longer just sit back and restate goals they needed to produce mechanisms that could bring those goals within reach and as a result several important agreements were formed regarding emissions reductions and renewable energy. Many people had hoped that this agreement would be stricter than the new plans call for accelerated investment in solar wind and hydroelectric power over the next decade. More than 15 countries signed on to increase renewable energy capacity phased out coal dependency and incentivise carbon neutral transportation. 

International climate finance was another key topic many developing countries especially those already suffering from rising temperatures droughts and flooding emphasised how they could not transition away from fossil fuels without facing many financial barriers and needing to borrow money from other countries, which is universally not a thing people like to do, because this leads to debt. Richer nations in response pledged to contribute to a global climate fund which intended to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate impacts. If this works, the way it's supposed to it could mean new flood defences drought resistant agricultural programmes and relocation support for many communities whose homes are unliveable. Still many people are concerned because in previous conferences wealthy nations had promised funding that never fully came to be which leaves many asking the question of whether these new commitments are reliable. Trust is a very difficult thing to obtain. 

Despite the progress scope COP 30 faced criticism for being too slow moving in areas that demanded urgent action the most notable example for this was the lack of a clear enforceable timeline for phasing out fossil fuels, which further proves why the UN might not be ready to achieve all 17 sustainable development goals by 2030. Many conflicts have left negotiators stuck in a middle zone where they need to tread carefully to avoid backlash and instead of committing to elimination the final statements emphasised transitioning away instead of eliminating completely.  

Many environmental groups and certain activists have expressed frustration over this outcome and argued that without mandatory deadlines or penalties things might never happen and countries might continue business as usual which could delay transitions until consequences become so bad that they cannot be reversed. There is too much talk of soon it will be too late and not enough worrying about how soon “too late” really is. Young climate advocates have talked about their concerns that world leaders were prioritising political convenience over what the world needs. There was also a lot of disappointment regarding the protection of the Amazon zone itself, thus the location. While Brazil has pledged to reduce illegal logging and expand conservation programmes scientists and critics have warned that enforcement has historically been very inconsistent. Deforestation rates have dropped slightly in the past year but experts emphasise that true recovery requires a lot more time to be effective and not just temporary improvement. 

Another challenge was which delegates represent each nation. Many indigenous leaders attend COP 30 with hopes of having their voices centred especially since they are among the most affected by environmental destruction. And though they were given more space to speak compared to previous conferences they still felt sidelined and excluded in the final decision making. Indigenous communities are proven to be the most experienced in how their society is diminishing but policy rarely places them in leadership roles. This remains a gap that must be addressed moving forward. 

Here are a few ways that cop 30 decisions could affect your everyday life: 

Firstly, as houses shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy electricity generation can become cleaner and over time much cheaper. Solar and wind power becoming more efficient every single year and it is very probable that many households will see an increase in availability of renewable energy options and in the long term less reliance on oil and coal could stabilise or lower energy prices. 

Governments could potentially begin implementing stricter emission rules for cars, factories, and public infrastructure which could mean more electric vehicles on roads, more efficient public transport and maybe even incentives for people to reduce their personal carbon footprint. In general, air pollution from cars can affect the visibility of the sky, and in the long term, if we reduce our carbon footprints, our vision of the sky at night could change from a few stars to billions. 

Climate stress eventually leads to crop failures which impacts the global food supply. Although you might not know it, your entire fridge probably comes from different corners of the world. If kiwi production stops in Peru, you might never see a kiwi again. By funding climate adaptation measures COP 30 aims to prevent shortages and price spikes. But if progress remains slow, food costs may rise especially for products that rely on stable rainfall or temperature patterns. 

Finally, something that is important for absolutely everyone on the face of the earth. Education systems and businesses are expected to adopt more environmentally conscious practises. Students might learn more about sustainability, and companies may be required to disclose emissions or operate more transparently. 

All these actions ultimately add up to a big change, and while these everyday changes might seem small at first glance, together they shape how societies work consume and grow. 

One of the most important takeaways from COP 30 is that climate action cannot rely only on world leaders. While agreeing internationally is crucial and very important for the United Nations, communities and individuals also play a very important role. Action cannot be taken if the public that it is affecting does not agree to it, a consistent pressure from the public is often the reason climate conferences exist in the first place. People who protest and demand greener infrastructure can gather so much attention that governments respond. One consumer supports sustainable companies, and the industries adjust out of reliance from them. 

But now you might be thinking, what can one person really do? The answer is more than you think. Choosing renewable energy over coal and fossil fuels that emit lots of greenhouse gases, buying products made more responsibly, reducing waste, and supporting biodiversity all contribute to a collective impact. Like we all know, even talking about climate issues spreads awareness which can lead to a bigger political change. 

Now that cop 30 has come to an end, the world waits to see if the promises made will become a reality or remain empty promises. The next two to three years will be a critical test of trust toward the UN. Nations must show that they are not only listening to science but acting on it. Day by day, emissions continue to rise, and temperatures climb so every delay makes recovery more difficult. The Amazon will remain a symbol of what is at stake and if it continues to decline the world loses one of its greatest natural defences against climate change. So now, think to yourself, will the UN act on what they've promised, or will the world continue to spiral into mayhem? 

Now, let's look into the experience of three very lucky individuals who were chosen to visit this conference from our school. As you may know, two OIS students were able to be a part of this historical event that had a significant impact on global environmental policy. These two students attended this event with the help of a scholarship that they received from the Oeiras Valley municipality after winning the best delegate award at a COPMUN conference that took place in October. In order to get their unique perspective on what happened and the impact it had on them, we interviewed one of the students that was present in the conference, India Parente, and her chaperone: Andre Salazar. They were asked multiple questions ranging from conferences they were able to attend to what message they would like to leave to members of the school community. 

During their time there, they were able to attend multiple conferences, panels, and seminars. Most of the events that they were present in were organized by the Portuguese delegation and were centered on topics like climate finance, global adaptation strategies, the progress towards emission reduction targets and the role that indigenous communities play in preserving ecosystems. Moreover, many of the events had a clear focus on the role that youth play in international climate events. Parente described the experience of attending a panel in which a group of Portuguese teens and young adults. talked about their experience travelling through Portugal with the goal of emitting as little CO2 as possible into the atmosphere; “I found it (their journey) really interesting” she states. 

While much of the event aligned with their expectations, there were aspects that stood out because they were not what they had expected from an international climate conference. Both of our interviewees mentioned that they were surprised by the substantial presence of indigenous communities and advocacy groups at the conference; Mr. Salazar even stated that “The presence of Indigenous communities was also more visible and influential than in other conferences I’ve attended.”. One of the major reasons why indigenous communities had such an influential role in COP30 is because the event was set near the amazon rainforest, where native populations drive much of the effort to impede deforestation and to lessen carbon emissions. 

Another aspect that caught Parente’s attention was the scale of the event, which was far larger than she expected. She describes that as soon as she arrived at the conference she was astonished by the event’s magnitude and the large number of people that were present. Parente also recounts that the discussions were a lot more international and multilingual than she had previously imagined; “There were a lot of international people from different places, speaking different languages.” she explained. She was also surprised by how passionate all the delegates and speakers were about climate change, which she found “unexpected in a good way”. 

Their teacher chaperone, Mr. Salazar who has previously attended other UN conferences, reflected on how COP30 was different than other UN events. He explained that the event felt much more urgent and emotionally charged precisely because of its proximity to the Amazon forest. Moreover, he underestimated how influential non-governmental actors can be, he stated “NGOs, youth groups, scientists, and Indigenous organizations had a visible impact, often shaping conversations and applying pressure.”.  

Another characteristic of the event that surprised him was how open delegates were to have conversations outside of a formal setting. Instead of the environment being closed and strictly diplomatic, he found that many negotiators were willing to have conversations about their country's priorities and challenges in an approachable way. Similarly, he noticed that many of the negotiations took place in a more dynamic way, outside of an official setting “Many agreements begin in hallways, small meeting rooms, or even over coffee between delegates,” he explained. 

In the interviews we inquired about any tense negotiations or conferences that they might have encountered during their time in Belém. Mr. Salazar recounted that there were clear tensions in the conference, especially when talking about issues such as climate finance, the pace of fossil fuel phase-out, and the complex relationship between developed and developing countries. There were also disputes around deadlines and accountability mechanisms. In the interview, he detailed how these types of discussions helped improve his understanding of the complexity of diplomatic relations. 

We asked each participant to reflect on how this experience changed their opinion of the UN as an international diplomatic organization. Parente expressed that attending the conference didn’t significantly alter her perception of what the UN is; she stated that “it didn't really change my opinion it just felt much more real because I always thought that it was a very powerful organization but now I find it much more interesting.”. Mr. Salazar explained that having the opportunity to be present at such an important event and witnessing the difficulties of diplomacy only strengthened his appreciation of the work that the UN does, according to Mr. Salazar  “The UN is far from perfect, but witnessing thousands of people from every part of the world trying to collaborate gave me a deeper respect for its role. It showed me that progress is often slow, but still possible when nations commit to dialogue.”  

At the end of their respective interviews, we asked Parente and Mr. Salazar to rate their experience in Belém and whether they would attend another UN conference in the future if given the opportunity. India rated her experience attending COP30 an 8/10 and said that if the opportunity arose, she would definitely attend another UN event. Likewise, Mr. Salazar rated his overall experience a 9/10 and stated that “The learning, exposure, and global perspective I gained were invaluable.” Moreover, he said that he would attend another COP conference in the future without hesitation. 

Finally, we asked both of them to leave a message for the members of the OIS community that didn’t get a chance to be present at the COP30 conference in Belém. India decided to leave a message for all of the MUN members that didn’t win the best delegate award, she explained “I just want to say that there's always next time and I find that even if you didn't win that doesn't mean that you did not do well, I feel like there was so many really hard working people that so it was obviously really hard to choose but there's always the next time and you could just try your best and like. I'm sure that it'll be much, it's very possible to win future opportunities like these. Similarly, Mr. Salazar left a motivational message to all OIS students. He emphasized the importance of staying curious, informed, and engaged and encouraged students to participate in school initiatives, research, and advocacy because opportunities can come when you least expect them; in his own words, “We often hear about climate change from a distance, but being at COP makes you understand that decisions are made by real people and your voice matters.” 

Bibliography:

International Institute for Sustainable Development. “COP 30 Outcome: What it Means and What’s Next.” IISD, 22 Nov. 2025, https://www.iisd.org/articles/insight/cop-30-outcome-what-it-means-and-whats-next. IISD+1 

United Nations. “COP30 closes with agreement to step up support for developing countries.” UN, 22 Nov. 2025, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop30. United Nations 

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. “About COP 30.” UNFCCC, 2025, https://unfccc.int/cop30/about-cop30. UNFCCC+1 

“2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference.” Wikipedia, last updated 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_United_Nations_Climate_Change_Conference. Wikipedia 

WWF-Brasil. “Deforestation in the Amazon remains at high levels, with a rate of 11,568 km² in 2022.” WWF, Nov. 2022, https://www.wwf.org.br/en/?84261/Deforestation-in-the-Amazon-remains-at-high-levels-with-a-rate-of-11568-km2-in-2022=. wwf.org.br 

Joint Research Centre (European Commission). “The Amazon region in 2022 and 2023: deforestation, forest degradation and risk growing soy production.” JRC, 28 Feb. 2024, https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/amazon-region-2022-and-2023-deforestation-forest-degradation-and-risk-growing-soy-production-2024-02-28_en. JRC: EU Science Hub 

Le Monde. “How healthy is the Amazon, the world’s largest tropical rainforest?” Le Monde, 5 Nov. 2025, https://www.lemonde.fr/en/environment/article/2025/11/05/how-healthy-is-the-amazon-the-world-s-largest-tropical-rainforest_6747118_114.html. Le Monde.fr 

IISD. “Inside COP 30.” IISD, 2025, https://www.iisd.org/events/inside-cop-30. IISD 

WWF-Brasil. “COP 30.” WWF Brasil, 2025, https://www.wwf.org.br/en/our_work/cop30/. wwf.org.br