Global Citizen in Belém Reinforces Pará's Protagonism in Sustainability and Social Justice
International event highlighted the role of the State in the global climate agenda and celebrated advances in reducing deforestation and creating new conservation areas in the Amazon
Governor Helder Barbalho participated this Saturday (1st) in the Global Citizen Festival Amazônia, an international event that was held for the first time in Belém, bringing together political leaders, artists, and activists from various parts of the world committed to defending the environment and combating inequalities.
The event, held at the Mangueirão Olympic Stadium, featured performances by Chris Martin, Charlie Puth, Anitta, Gilberto Gil, Seu Jorge, Gaby Amarantos, and Viviane Batidão. In addition to the governor, notable attendees included Sônia Guajajara, Brazil's Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Brazil's First Lady, Janja Lula da Silva, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, among other national and international leaders.
During the speech, alongside First Lady Daniela Barbalho, Helder Barbalho emphasized the pride of the people of Pará and the role of the State as a reference in the global climate agenda.
“Let’s speak very loudly, the world is watching us. Good evening, Pará! Nature shapes our identity, our economy, and our future. But beyond nature, Pará is defined by its people, this wonderful people, who are the people of Pará. How many indigenous people, local communities, and millions and millions of families whose lives and existence depend on the forest.”
“That’s why, back in 2021, I responded to a call from Global Citizen and Coldplay for stronger climate leadership from governors of the Brazilian Amazon. It was a powerful moment that reminded us that artists, citizens, and governments can and must work together to protect what matters most: our people and the forest,” he recalled.
“Since then, we have continued this collaboration, finding ways to unite politics and culture to protect the vital ecosystem of the Amazon. Now, this partnership is materializing, and soon, next week, Pará will host COP30,” said Helder Barbalho.
“An act of climate action that will take place in the heart of the Amazon, in Belém do Pará, ten years after the Paris Agreement. The world will gather here, with the climate urgency, with the leadership and solidarity needed, and it has never been more important,” said the governor.
“That’s why we are very proud to host the Global Citizen Festival Amazônia in our city, in Pará territory. This celebration shares our roots, our culture, and the determination of the people for this good world. It’s time to turn speech into commitment, work into legacy, hope into results.”
“From Pará to the world, the forest speaks, and we, who live here in the Amazon, are the forest. And you can be sure: it is all of humanity that responds.”
“We can! The Amazon can! Pará can! And you, we, will show the world that they will come here and see that we are a welcoming people, an educated people, and a wonderful State and city. Long live the Amazon! Long live Brazil!” concluded the governor.
Historic Reduction of Deforestation
In recent years, and based on actions executed under the State Plan Amazônia Agora, Pará has implemented public policies to reduce deforestation and encourage sustainable productive practices. The State has heavily invested, in addition to combating deforestation, in policies for concessions for forest restoration, bioeconomy, environmental regularization, REDD+, and payment for environmental services, focusing on valuing local and traditional communities.
As a result, Pará reduced deforestation by 54% between 2021 and 2024, according to official data from the Prodes system of the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), and achieved a reduction of over 85% in forest fire hotspots this year.
About Global Citizen
Global Citizen is an international movement that mobilizes citizens, leaders, and organizations around the fight against extreme poverty, inequality, and climate change. Founded in 2008, Global Citizen acts as a global engagement platform, encouraging people from all over the world to become global citizens, agents of transformation committed to building a fairer, more sustainable, and equitable planet.
In addition to its ongoing campaigns, the movement holds the Global Citizen Festival, a large-scale event that combines music, culture, and social activism. The festival brings together artists and world leaders in performances and discussions aimed at inspiring concrete actions and public policies focused on environmental protection, poverty eradication, and the promotion of social justice.
The event has been held in New York City, USA, with several editions in Central Park, and has also taken place in India, Germany, South Africa, France, Ghana, Nigeria, among other countries.
In 2025, the edition in Belém reinforced the importance of the Amazon as the center of discussions about the future of the planet.
