It’s reminiscent of the World Cup finals, but it’s not. It sounds like the artistic gymnastics’ final, involving Rebecca Andrade, but it’s not that either. It has that taste of Ayrton Senna’s Formula One victory theme, but it only makes us remember, because it’s far from it.

Now, what unites all these events above and the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will take place between November 10 and 21, 2025, in Belém (PA)? You guessed it: anxiety.

As Galvão Bueno – one of the greatest sports commentators in the world – would say: “My heart is racing!”.

In other words, the country, the world, the people are anxious, because for the first time the conference will be held in the Amazon region, which always catalyzes any issue about climate and solutions. It’s a milestone!

“Through the Rede de Soluções para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável da Amazônia (Sustainable Development Solutions Network for the Amazon) (SDSN), which is an institution linked to the United Nations, we participate in processes related to climate change. And we have been at all the COPs since the creation of FAS, both those on biodiversity and those on climate,” recalls Virgilio Viana, General Superintendent of the Fundação Amazônia Sustentável (Sustainable Amazon Foundation) (FAS), who corroborates the historical moment.

This is a historical milestone or fact that obviously does not hide the natural difficulties of holding an event of this size in this ecosystem. This is because the same obstacles faced with organizing the COP in Belém are the same ones faced in the region’s daily life, not only to protect the forest, but fundamentally to bring quality of life to the people. And it is good that everyone encounters this reality, which ends up sensitizing and fostering initiatives of the most diverse kinds.

Green Money I

But as the poet would say, nothing moves without “money.” In the best style, to laugh, you have to make people laugh; taking oil out of the equation and replacing it with dozens of environmentally friendly solutions depends on time and money. A lot of both.

In the  País Tropical, abençoado por Deus e bonito por natureza , Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (National Bank for Economic and Social Development) (BNDES) pressed “enter” when it comes to energy transition, as did the Eco Invest program of the Brazilian Treasury.

A new sustainable investment modality designed by the federal government, Eco Invest is part of the Direct Treasury program, which focuses on green public bonds. Or green bonds, if you prefer…

There are three Eco Invest initiatives that can inject around BRL 15 billion into movements stamped with the green seal.

In October of this year, just over 30 days before COP, BNDES approved an investment of BRL 100 million (with resources from the Climate Fund) for Belterra Agroflorestas. The goal is to expand its agroforestry systems in degraded areas in the states of Bahia, Pará, Rondônia, and Mato Grosso. This movement will target approximately 2,750 hectares by 2027, representing nearly 850,000 tons of carbon sequestration, with a total investment reaching BRL 135 million.

Green Money II

However, the initiative towards sustainable projects is global. So much so that the Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento (Inter-American Development Bank) (BID) has set up a veritable financing machine for the Amazon.

In June, it signed a check for USD 2.5 million. Yes, you read that correctly. More than BRL 1.25 billion, at an exchange rate of BRL 5 – I know that’s not the exact amount, but let’s agree that it simplifies any simple rule of three – and it’s structured as follows: USD 175 million from the BID itself and USD 75 million from the Green Climate Fund for the Programa BB Amazônia (BB Amazon Program), with the century-old Banco do Brasil as a partner.

But where does all this money go? Calm down… Let’s explain.

The targets are bioeconomy and sustainable infrastructure, focusing on renewable energy and digital connectivity. Where? Bingo: Legal Amazon.

With all this money, the expectation is to support up to 11,700 local businesses and ventures of different sizes. From micro to medium-sized, including cooperatives and women-led initiatives, unlocking credit where it rarely arrives.

But it doesn’t end there. The package also includes a grant of US$ 8.8 million to cover losses and thus enable credit for projects with higher risk, without killing innovation at the start. It’s money as an escalator. Functioning as a bridge to scale.

Even you, Nobel!

By now, it’s clear that COP30 rhymes with heavyweight investment in the green economy. So, it’s only fair that the legendary Nobel Prize in Economics lands on topics never before observed. As was the case in this year’s edition.

The 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics went to Joel Mokyr, Philippe Aghion, and Peter Howitt for their studies on innovation-driven economic growth. And tell me, what would the green economy, the impact economy, be if it weren’t driven by innovation? Well…

Mokyr, for example, was awarded for identifying the conditions necessary for economic progress to happen continuously, without long periods of stagnation. Aghion and Howitt took the prize for their theory of growth based on “creative destruction”—what a wonderful name, it must be emphasized. This term embraces innovations that best replace previous ones.

F-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c!

“It’s impressive that this trio of economists presents a theory according to which economic growth depends on technological innovation. It’s another milestone, on the eve of COP30,” says Ramalho, who has a master’s degree in the subject from the School of Economics of the Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV-SP).

Indeed. Incredible.

In our case here in Terra Brasilis, think of ideas to give a boost to the transformation of an economic model that still burns carbon.

Pedro Howitt, Philippe Aghion, and Joel Mokyr, winners of the 2025 Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel. (Photo: adapted from The Nobel Prize website)

The concept of “creative destruction,” therefore, is very relevant when we talk about the ecological transition: innovating and replacing polluting models with more efficient and sustainable solutions is the future desired by all. And Brazil has everything to be the protagonist of this change. But, for that, we cannot just stand by and watch. We need to act.

Act as the GCF Task Force (Global Climate Governors’ Task Force), a group of governors from different countries (including those in the Brazilian Amazon) created in 2008 by the Terminator, our old acquaintance Arnold Schwarzenegger, has been trying to do.

Colleen Scanlan Lyons, GCF Project Director, lays it out. She emphasizes that collaboration between state governments is key to the effectiveness of climate policies.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Each state has its own particularities, and that is precisely what makes local strategies so effective,” explains Colleen, with the conviction of someone who knows the map of the treasure. The GCF has 45 states and provinces from 11 countries and, of course, the governors are there to get their house in order – in this case, combating deforestation and promoting sustainable development.

Spotlight

At COP30, eyes will be on Amazon. And, let’s face it, Brazil has a privileged position. We have a unique potential to lead the global green agenda, with a predominantly renewable electricity grid and the greatest biodiversity on the planet. The formula for change couldn’t be clearer.

Colleen sees the Amazonian states as key pieces on this chessboard. Acre, Amazonas, Pará, and Amapá are already taking the first steps with bioeconomy and sustainable development plans. And, for those who have doubts, COP30 will be the stage for these plans to be presented to the world. It’s like a big launch event where, instead of new smartphones, we’ll leverage a low-carbon sustainable development model.

Prescription

Chalet on Combú Island, in Belém, Pará. (Photo: Gil Silva)

If COP is the grand stage, the script is already written: well-calibrated public money, more multilateral funds with appetite, more curious private capital, and, presto, the bioeconomy takes off.

At the end of the day, it’s simple: without green, there’s no money; without money, there’s no green. And, since we’re on our way to Belém, here’s a tip: if you’re unsure whether to choose açaí in a bowl or açaí powder to maximize value at the source, order both. The economy will thank you for both. And so will the planet. 

So, see you soon in Belém. See you in Belém!

“The Earth provides enough to satisfy everyone’s needs, but not everyone’s greed.”

Mahatma Ghandi

3 Questions for…

Virgilio Viana

Superintendent-General of the Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS), PhD in Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University and former Secretary of Environment and Sustainable Development of Amazonas (2003-2008).

Virgilio Viana, General Superintendent of the Amazon Sustainable Foundation (FAS). (Photo: Courtesy)

1) To promote the sustainable development of the Amazon, FAS adopts three scales as its strategy: global, Amazonian, and local. Can you give more details on how the organization operates and what impact its projects have?

FAS operates focusing on the communities and villages of the deep Amazon. This is our main area of ​​operation. Based on local plans developed in a participatory manner, together with the communities and villages, we develop a strategy for raising funds and partnerships that is structured in programs. These programs reflect the priorities identified in this consultation and co-participation process with communities and villages. From this, we developed social technology for implementing these different programs that follow a systemic approach. That is, we work with everything that is a priority for the communities, based on the conceptual framework of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (UN). And the lessons learned in the implementation of these projects allow us to influence public policies at the municipal, state, and federal levels, and to share these experiences outside of Brazil, especially in the countries of the Amazon basin.

2) COP30 will be held in Belém. How can Brazil and the Amazon transform this leading role into real leadership in global climate negotiations and commitments?

Brazil has taken important steps in the ecological transformation program, led by the Ministry of Finance, and in the plan to combat deforestation in the Amazon, the Cerrado, and other Brazilian biomes. This leadership, by example, is the most effective. Regarding the Amazon, I believe that not only what has been implemented by the federal government and some state governments, but also by civil society, companies, and academia—which has conducted research that points the way forward—contributes to ensuring that the Amazon’s trajectory is consistent with a route for reducing emissions and contributing to the challenge of addressing climate change on a regional scale.

3) One of the major themes that should permeate the discussions at COP30 is the financing of the green transition. What paths do you see to increase the flow of capital to the Amazon, ensuring that these resources reach communities and grassroots projects?

There are many opportunities to increase the flow of capital to the Amazon. It is crucial that these investments consider both the valuation of standing forests—as an economic strategy to combat deforestation—and the contribution to reducing social inequalities, since the Amazon region has the worst human development indices in Brazil. This flow of capital now has a growing range of opportunities, highlighting the Amazonian bioeconomy based on biodiversity—often referred to as socio-biodiversity—which has a very large potential for wealth generation with added value. It is important that this is done in a way that considers increasing the income of producers—forestry, agricultural, and fishing—who are at the base of the production chain, and not just adding value in subsequent stages. It is also essential to prioritize value generation within the region itself, which often exports raw materials in their natural state and with low added value. Therefore, this flow of capital should prioritize adding local value, valuing the work of forest producers, and creating interfaces with local centers of intelligence and knowledge—notably public and private universities and research institutions in the region.