The outcome of COP29

Rafael Tello, Vice President of Sustainability at Ambipar and Scientific Director of the ATMOS Institute — Photo: Press Release.

The United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference COP29 (2024), held from November 11 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, represented a considerable advance. Discussing the importance of an agreement among countries regarding climate financing will lead us to the necessary actions that impact the entire world.

Climate issues must be analyzed considering that time is not on our side, and we must use it strategically to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and unite representatives from all countries toward a common goal: preserving planet Earth and using natural resources responsibly.

Brazil, which is preparing for COP30, to be held in Belém in 2025, participated actively in COP29, leading discussions on sustainability topics, the decarbonization of the Brazilian economy, and business practices at the Casa Brasil — a 200 m² booth designed to showcase the country’s beauty and attractions, organized in partnership with Sebrae, as reported by the federal government portal.

Rafael Tello, Vice President of Sustainability at Ambipar and Scientific Director of the ATMOS Institute, attended COP29 and contributed this article with insights based on his experience as a member of the ESG Committee at Bartofil (where he has driven progress in environmental, social, and corporate governance practices) and as coordinator of the Desafio 2030 Network and Hub ODS MG, where he helps companies leverage the 17 SDGs.

A graduate in Economics from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a postgraduate in Sustainability Management from Leuphana Universität, he highlighted Brazil’s representation in Baku.

“The Brazilian delegation consisted of representatives experienced in COPs and corporate sustainability with decision-making power within their organizations. The great advantage of our recurring participation in COPs is the high-quality discussions that foster new actions and drive results,” Rafael comments.

The importance of having Brazilian representatives such as Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Marina Silva, and Minister of Tourism Celso Sabino, who promoted actions to foster information and combat disinformation (fake news) on such a critical issue as climate change, along with a clear position to guide the COP30 projections, places Brazil in a prominent position to achieve significant results in its contribution to the planet.

There were 12 days of debates and over 40,000 delegates, including representatives from 198 countries, actively participating in establishing rules for the carbon market and advancing climate negotiations that involve the entire world.

Bringing together representatives and specialists while acknowledging that time is running out and we need to advance decision-making is crucial as we prepare for the next COP. Tello recognizes the relevance of cooperation and agreement among leaders and reaffirms the power of unity and dialogue.

“The meetings held at COP29 turned into productive conversations, evolving into potential collaborations, partnerships, and projects, creating room for substantial action. The seeds were planted during this COP, and now we have a year to convert these ideas into proposals, make them a reality, and demonstrate to the world Brazil’s capacity to lead the green economy,” the expert emphasizes.

Climate change has placed us in a state of global alert, and Brazil has committed to addressing sustainability and the country’s economy, focusing on the biodiversity and tourism of Belém, the host of COP30.

Accelerating actions to combat climate crises and meeting the Paris Agreement goals is still possible, but it will require significant investments. A UN portal publication indicates that trillions of dollars in financing will be needed to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Failure is not an option.”

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