Social mobilization is fundamental for environmental policies, says Marina - Brazil May 7, 2025

Minister Marina Silva at a national conference in Brazil. Photo © Valter Campanato/Agência Brasil

Social mobilization is fundamental for environmental policies, says Marina - Brazil

Minister opens 5th National Conference on the Environment

Pedro Rafael Vilela - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, said on Tuesday (6) that the 5th National Conference on the Environment, after almost 12 years, marks the resumption of control and social participation in environmental policy.

“This conference is a demonstration that the mobilization of society is fundamental in the formulation and implementation of public policies,” said Marina Silva during the opening of the event in Brasília.

With the theme Climate Emergency and the Challenge of Ecological Transformation, the conference was organized into five areas: Mitigation; Adaptation and Disaster Preparedness; Climate Justice; Ecological Transformation; and Governance and Environmental Education.

Until May 9, groups organized in each area will discuss the proposals resulting from the preliminary meetings.

The stages leading up to the conference involved the participation of 2,570 municipalities in 439 municipal conferences, 179 intermunicipal conferences, and 287 open conferences. In all, about 1,500 delegates are in Brasilia for the final stage, with a majority of women representatives (56%) and broad participation of black people and indigenous and traditional populations.

A total of 100 proposals will be used as a basis for public policies such as updating the National Policy on Climate Change and developing the Climate Plan.

“What we want is to hear your proposals at this conference, which will help the government of President Lula, who is committed to environmental issues. COP30 will be held in Brazil,” said Vice President and Minister of Development, Industry, and Trade Geraldo Alckmin, who also participated in the opening of the national conference.

Regarding the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), to be held in six months in Belém, the Minister of the Environment noted that it will bring together 196 countries and will be a historic benchmark on the path forward, which is to implement commitments, including tripling renewable energy, ensuring the transition to the end of deforestation and fuel use, and achieve climate justice and reparations for vulnerable sectors.

Marina Silva also criticized the discontinuity of public policies over the last six years and emphasized the current government's commitment to global goals for reducing emissions of gases that cause global warming and threaten human existence on Earth.

“I see President Lula saying that we will achieve deforestation by 2030, that we have a reduction in carbon emissions of between 59% and 67% in our NDC, in our Climate Plan, in line with the mission [of a maximum increase of] 1.5°C by 2035. And that we will be able to hold COP30 by leading by example.”

Published on May 6, 2025, at 10:47 p.m. by Agência Brasil