From ECO92 to COP30: 30 years later, the climate demands action

The 1992 Earth Summit (ECO92 ), held in Rio de Janeiro, was a landmark event. There, the world took its first institutional steps in combating climate change with the creation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) . Three decades later, COP30 , to be held in Belém , carries the weight of transforming promises into concrete action.

Since 1992, the debate has evolved: the Kyoto Protocol (1997) , the Paris Agreement (2015) , and numerous targets have been established. But the planet has also changed. Today, the scenario is more urgent—marked by political crises, weakened multilateralism , wars, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events .

In the lead-up to COP30, the watchword is urgency . Experts and leaders are demanding real cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, protection of key ecosystems such as the Amazon , and direct support for vulnerable populations .

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres , summed up the current climate:

“The United Nations has never been more essential.”

There is a growing consensus: conferences and declarations are no longer enough . Meeting the 1.5°C limit on global warming requires structural changes in economic models, public policies, and international financing.

COP30 is more than just a conference . Taking place in the heart of the Amazon , it carries both symbolic and practical value. It’s time to show real ambition or admit failure.