Field Notes: COP30 Special
In this special edition, Parley’s Global Education Director Antonia Mascarenhas shares an update from the heart of the Amazon rainforest
Embraced by the Amazon rainforest, COP30 transformed Belém into a vibrant, living center of knowledge exchange. Houses across the city opened their doors with beautiful programming, and the city became a true open-air school. Everywhere I walked, people were talking about the climate – about how to improve, how to protect nature. The Guamá River was filled with boats, 70,000 people took to the streets calling for environmental justice, Indigenous peoples from all over the world walking side by side… it was impossible not to be moved. Brazil showed its most beautiful qualities: our diversity, music, warmth, forest, ancestral wisdom, art and creativity.
When we finalized our trip to COP30, we started thinking about what our contribution could be, how we could create an action connecting us with the forest, the rivers, the local culture and history, outside the walls of the Conference. That's how our action in collaboration with Festival Coletivo and Rio e Mar Va'a (Paddling for Change) came about, bringing together 20 people from different backgrounds, ages, and environmental, social and cultural areas. We started early at sunrise, crossing the Guamá River to Combú Island where everyone quickly fell silent, listening to the dense nature awakening.
Next, we traveled along the river and stopped to do some cleaning. As always, we found a lot of plastic everywhere we went. We collected 288kg in 20 minutes – so sad. We found TV monitors, shoes, fishing nets, bags, bottles. It was hard to leave, but we had a visit scheduled at Dona Rosy's house, a wonderful riverside dweller who welcomed us with the best breakfast: tapioca, açaí, cakes, hot coffee. We formed a circle and each participant shared what they wanted at that moment. These exchanges, with active listening, generate a lot of learning. I've heard a lot of feedback that the education at Parley has created these welcoming environments, where everyone feels comfortable being exactly who they are. This makes me very proud.
We finished by paddling back to the city of Belém – revitalized, connected, inspired and ready to face the dozens of COP30 panels ahead. One of the participants said that “all decision-makers should be here” seeing, hearing and feeling what the Amazon rainforest is like. It's impossible not to fall in love with the forest and wish for its preservation. That's what it's about: creating connection to generate action.
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