The Voices of the Peoples at COP30

28.11.2025

“The Voices of the Peoples at COP30: When Care Becomes Politics and Spirituality Meets Sustainability”

The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) concluded recently. It was held in the heart of the Amazon, in Belém, Brazil, from 10th-21st November 2025.

But it is what happened outside the negotiating rooms that proved to be especially precious and unique!

We refer to the side events, where hope and solidarity allowed peoples of different cultures, spiritualties and traditions to meet and exchange perspectives, intentions and proposals, seeking to create alliances of co-responsibility in order to offer a concrete, collective response to the cry of the poor, of the planet and of the new generations together.

New Humanity NGO was able to bring its contribution and proposals to two of these parallel events: the “People’s Summit“, a global gathering aimed at strengthening popular mobilization and converging on unified agendas; and the “Ecumenical and Inter-religious Tapiri“, which brought together leaders of different religions, traditional peoples and social movements to discuss issues such as climate justice, the defence of the Amazon and the fight against fundamentalism. Gilvan David, Raissa Almeida and Maria Clézia Pinto, representatives of New Humanity NGO, presented the 10 proposals contained in the document “Towards a just, relational and regenerative transition”.  These are 10 proposals in which sustainability becomes a tool that harmonizes people, the environment and spirituality; 10 transdisciplinary proposals that envision a new future for the human family and our common home, inspiring collective action for a more united and sustainable world. It is worth noting that some of these proposals were cited in the official documents arising from the dialogues or were mentioned by specialists and civil and religious authorities during the program of these events.

The document is the outcome of a collaborative effort, written by several hands and in five languages (Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese and English), thanks to the contribution of partners and various cultural and socially active bodies of New Humanity NGO, including the International Commission EcoOne-Ecologically United, the Brazilian National Association for an Economy of Communion NGO (Anpecom),  the Italian National EcoOne Commission and the Brazilian National Secretariat of New Humanity. In summary, it proposes the creation and promotion of:

  1. An International Transdisciplinary Commission for Valuing Good Community Practices
  2. An Ethical-Relational Observatory for Climate Justice that integrates the Global Stocktake with qualitative indicators on equity, participation, human impact and intercultural relations.
  3. Workshops for dialogue and ecological reconciliation, i.e. permanent spaces for ecumenical, interreligious and intercultural dialogue in the territories most vulnerable to climate impacts.
  4. ‘Care’ as a guiding principle in public policies
  5. The adoption of training programs that integrate scientific knowledge, ethical values and the spiritual dimension of ecology and the creation of an international network of positive communication, which collects and shares stories of environmental regeneration and social cohesion.
  6. An International Pact for Sobriety and Gratuitousness as a strategic lever for reducing emissions and achieving climate justice.
  7. Glocal cooperation platforms that combine scientific research, spiritual traditions and community innovation.
  8. “Relational Conversion” as a paradigm of change: from the logic of domination to the logic of reciprocity and communion.
  9. Assessment methods that include spiritual and relational impact in the sustainability indicators of climate projects.
  10. Love as an economic category for a just transition.

Finally, we can say that all the initiatives organized during the days of COP 30 by social movements, indigenous organizations, environmental networks, student collectives, academics and other civil society organizations, remind us of a powerful truth: we are not alone. When we join forces and walk together, an energy is born that can transform the present into a future that is more prosperous, just, sustainable and fraternal.

 

📑➡️ Read the document “Towards a just, relational and regenerative transition” in English here.

In Italian

In French

In Portuguese

In Spanish

 

COP30 – Focolare Movement Delegation

 

COP30 – Gilvan David, Maria Clézia Pinto, Raissa Almeida – New Humanity NGO representatives

 

COP30 – March for the climate justice

 

COP30 – Catholic Church Sumposium

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During COP30, the document was given to:

Networks, Movements and Organizations:

  • Lorna Gold, LaudatoSì Movement;
  • Rocheli Koralewski, coordinator of the Action of the Catholic Church at COP 30;
  • Sonia Mota, executive director of the NGO Ecumenical Coordination of Services;
  • Telma Rocha, Brazilian representative of the Avina Foundation;
  • Marina Gattás, co-founder and co-director of the NGO Outra Economia, which represents the Brazilian hub of the Wellbeing Economy Alliance;
  • Luiz Felipe Lacerda, Jesuit at the Catholic University of Pernambuco, coordinator of Brazil’s first Laudato Si’ Chair and member of the United Nations Harmony with Nature Program’s Global Expert Group;
  • Clemir Fernandes, deputy director of the Institute of Religious Studies;
  • Carlos Vicente, coordinatore nazionale · Interfaith Rainforest Initiative Brazil.

Religious Authorities:

  • – Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, member of the Holy See delegation and apostolic nuncio to Brazil;
  • Cardinal Jaime Spengler, archbishop of Porto Alegre, president of the Bishops’ Conference of Brazil and of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council;
  • Cardinal Ladislav Német, archbishop of Belgrade and vice-president of the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences;
  • Cardinal Filipe Néri Antônio Sebastião do Rosário Ferrão, archbishop of Goa and Damão, India;
  • Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, president of the Symposium of the Bishops’ Conferences of Africa and Madagascar and archbishop of the diocese of Kinshasa, in the Democratic Republic of Congo;
  • Dom Ricardo Hoepers, secretary general of the Bishops’ Conference of Brazil;
  • Sister Maria do Disterro Rocha Santos, president of the Conference of Religious of Brazil;
  • Bishop Marinez is Marinez Rosa dos Santos Dachshund, bishop primate of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil and diocesan bishop of the Anglican diocese of the Amazon;
  • Reverend Agnaldo Gomes, director of Religions for Peace Brazil and board member of the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative Brazil.