In Brasília, Helder Barbalho advocates for COP30 as the 'COP of implementation'
In a seminar promoted by media outlets, the governor called for less talk and more action at the climate conference to be held in Belém
The governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho, argued this Tuesday (30), in Brasília, that the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30) should be marked by concrete results, being seen as the 'COP of implementation'. For him, it is time to transform intentions into effective actions to mitigate the effects of climate change, increase international financing, and promote public policies aimed at environmental conservation.
The head of the state executive participated in the seminar "COP30 – Forest Preservation and Bioeconomy: the paths to mitigate the climate crisis", promoted by the media outlets O Globo, Valor Econômico, and CBN. In the panel "The time of the States: solutions to protect nature and promote sustainable development", Barbalho shared the table with the governor of Acre, Gladson Cameli, mediated by Thiago Bronzatto, director of O Globo's Brasília branch.
"If it were just an event, it could be held in São Paulo, Rio, or here in Brasília. But having the audacity to hold the largest event on climate change in the largest tropical forest in the world is a symbolic call. We need less talk and more implementation," said the governor.
According to him, the conference should go beyond the environmental agenda and address central themes such as energy transition. "May we reduce intentions and move to actions. This is our expectation! We have a COP that discusses the environment and climate change, and talking about this is much more than just an agenda. We will debate energy transition, which is at the center of discussions. The use of fossil fuels is today the largest emitter and the greatest challenge to reducing emissions. Discussing climate change is discussing the future of the global energy matrix," he argued.
Climate financing and shared responsibility
Helder Barbalho emphasized that Brazil, and especially the Amazon, has the potential to contribute to the reduction of global temperature, but this contribution needs to come with climate justice. "May we make a call to the Global North, so that they understand that we have the conditions to collaborate with the reduction of temperature from our forest stock. But for that, we need climate financing. They cannot point their fingers at us and say 'save humanity by preserving the forest' and transfer that cost," he stressed.
The governor highlighted advances in Pará in reducing deforestation and announced the launch, in October, of the Bioeconomy Park. "We want to transform our biodiversity into innovation, knowledge, research, and wealth generation. Our challenge is to build the Bioamazon Valley, in the mold of Silicon Valley in California, reconciling development and environmental protection," he emphasized.
Low-carbon livestock
Another point addressed by the governor was the modernization of livestock, a relevant sector in the Pará economy. "We need to migrate from the extensive model to the intensive one, ensuring food production with forest preservation," he said.
He added that the State has also made progress with traceability policies. "We have a state decree that requires individual traceability of the entire Pará cattle herd. This allows tracking each animal, from birth to slaughter, ensuring productive integrity, valuing good practices, and safety for the meat industry," he recalled.
Finally, Helder Barbalho advocated for the importance of compensating communities that help conserve the environment through Payment for Environmental Services policies. "With the support of the Inter-American Development Bank, we are structuring mechanisms to reward those who take care of the forest. Protecting the environment is also protecting the millions of Brazilians who live in the Amazon," he concluded.
