“COP-30 in Belém: A Starting Point, Not a Finish Line!” says Marcello Brito
Publicado em 16/10/2025
TCAI
Marcello Brito, special envoy to COP-30.
Published on October 8, 2025
Agriconscient Show Broadcast by Radio Eldorado/ Estadão-Brazil
*José Luiz Tejon
Translated/Copydesk by Teacher Francisco Barbosa Bardhal
I am here today with Marcello Brito, Special Envoy to the COP-30 Conference on the Amazon to be held in Belém, State of Pará. He is also a professional with spectacular experience in the region, holding degrees in food engineering and business administration.
I asked him about his major expectations for COP-30 and what he believes will happen. He replied:
“It´s a tremendous challenge. Look at the world we´re living in, with all its geopolitical tensions! Therefore, we cannot avoid acknowledging that these tensions will put pressure on the issues within the Climate Change Convention. I have no doubt about that.
This is looking at the glass as half full, but let's see it as full! This is the first major international meeting that will bring together key heads of state, and they will be here in Belém. Although many claim that only a few countries will participate, that is not true. All countries affiliated with the UNFCCC, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will certainly be present. Delegations may be larger or smaller, but everyone will be there.
It´s precisely at events like this we have the opportunity to put new ideas on the table, introduce new considerations, come up with new geopolitical arrangements, and structure new agreements.
So, more important than what we will deliver on the final day of COP-30, November 22, is what we´ll build during these 11 days in Belém and what we´ll put into practice during Brazil's Presidency of the COP, which really only ends next year when we hand it over, I believe, in Australia.
Therefore, I believe along the next 12 months, starting November 9th, Brazil will be the one to lead the Environmental Negotiations Agenda. Consider the opportunity we have to integrate all of this: new models of sustainable mining, new tropical food systems, because the Tropical Belt holds the world’s entire productive capacity for food. This is a great opportunity.
Recently, someone asked me: “Marcello, will business leaders really go to Belém?” and promptly I replied: Yes, they will! Those who already visit the Amazon and recognize its potential for agribusiness, forest restoration, and carbon sequestration are already there. Brazil will be the driver of the Environmental Negotiations. Those who won't go are the ones who don´t intend to, but they can continue holding their meetings in São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro without any problem, because this is Brazil's COP. It will just be hosted in Belém.
So, my expectation as a Brazilian is that we can initiate all these developments. As I have been saying, what I hope to take away from it is the understanding that the world can be fixed, and that this new geopolitical construction will begin in Belém,” commented Mr Marcello.
A constructive and profoundly important vision indeed. In my travels across Europe, I have noticed that the image of the Amazon is crucial to Brazil's image.
So, I asked Mr Marcello what is he´s view over my observation, and he kindly told me:
“I´d say Amazon's image potential is even stronger than Brazil's own image. The former Minister of the Environment, biologist Isabela Teixeira, has an iconic quote that resonates with me: “The Amazon puts Brazil on the world map, but at the same time, it can also take Brazil off the map.
We should have realized this a long time ago,” concluded Mr Marcello.
Congratulations, Marcello, I agree with all of this.
Best of luck at COP-30.
Thank you so much.
*Prof.Dr.José Luiz Tejon - PhD in Education Universidad de La Empresa/Uruguay; Academic Director Brazil+Tropical Belt Nations at International Agribusiness MBA Audencia France & Fecap Brazil; Master's degree in Art Education and History of Culture - Mackenzie University; Journalist and Publicist - Harvard, MIT and PACE/USA/ Insead in France; Specialization Academic Coordinator of Master's Science Food & Agribusiness Management at Audencia in Nantes/ France, and FECAP/Brazil; Managing Partner at Biomarketing and TCA International; Professional Head at Agri Anefac; Writer, author and co-author of 37 books; Agri Personality Award 2023/ABAG -100 Most Influential People in Agribusiness; Former director of Grupo Estadão, Agroceres and Jacto S/A; 2025 Award Agriworld Group.
