From 11 to 22 November 2025, the city of Belém do Pará (Brazil) hosted the thirtieth United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP30—a milestone summit brought to the heart of the Amazon at a moment of profound urgency for the planet. For the first time in history, the COP took place in the world’s largest tropical rainforest, a region central to global climate stability and home to countless Indigenous communities whose voices are essential in the struggle for climate justice.

The Society of Jesus, through the Jesuits for Climate Justice campaign, played a coordinated and visible role throughout the summit. A diverse delegation of Jesuits and collaborators gathered from social centres, including the Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC), universities, international networks to advocate for a just ecological transition grounded in human dignity. Their participation spanned official negotiations in the Blue Zone, the vibrant civil society spaces of the People’s Summit, and the Tapirí Ecuménico, where churches came together for interfaith dialogue on caring for our common home.

The following article offers a comprehensive overview of the outcomes of COP30, the advances made, and the significant gaps that remain—as well as how Jesuit networks contributed to shaping global conversations at this critical juncture.

The thirtieth United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) concluded in Belém do Pará after two weeks of intense negotiations and diplomatic challenges. In this context, the presence of the Society of Jesus—through the global Jesuits for Climate Justice campaign—stood out for its coordinated international action and strong engagement on crucial issues of climate justice.

For the first time, an international Jesuit campaign brought together around thirty Jesuits and collaborators from social centres, universities, international networks, and the Fe y Alegría Federation. The delegation participated both in the official COP30 spaces, where diplomatic delegations and accredited organisations meet, and in the People’s Summit—home to social movements—as well as the Tapirí Ecuménico, an interfaith space dedicated to dialogue on the care of our common home.

A Shared Religious Voice for Climate Justice

During the first week, the group helped disseminate Religious Life for Climate Justice: Turning Hope into Action, a document produced with several religious networks and institutions. Its demands focused on three key pillars:

• ensuring a Just Transition supported by grant-based financing that does not increase the debt burden of vulnerable countries;

• establishing operational mechanisms for the Loss and Damage Fund;

• promoting the reform of the global financial architecture, including the cancellation of climate-related debt.

On 20 November, Fr. Anderson Pedroso SJ, Rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, presented the campaign’s official statement to the COP30 President, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago. The following day, these proposals were shared at a press conference in the Blue Zone.

Progress Made—But Still Not Enough

After several stalled drafts, the Brazilian presidency finally released the Mutirâo Global document. It proposes to triple adaptation finance by 2030, launch a “Belém Mission for 1.5°C”, open new dialogues on trade, and establish a two-year work programme on climate finance.

However, the absence of explicit commitments to phase out fossil fuels and the lack of a clear strategy to tackle deforestation were widely criticised. These gaps reflect the influence of oil-producing countries and the limits of consensus-based negotiations.

Among the positive developments, a coalition of states led by Colombia called for a global roadmap to eliminate fossil fuels and announced that Colombia and the Netherlands will host the first Global Transition Conference in 2026.

A Major Step Forward: The Just Transition Mechanism

One of COP30’s most significant achievements was the creation of an institutional mechanism to coordinate the Just Transition. Until now, discussions on justice in energy transitions largely centred on employment and job conversion. Today, however, initiatives have expanded to include broader concerns such as energy access, raw materials, and energy poverty.

This new mechanism will help establish common principles, channel funding, and coordinate global action. The Justice in Mining Network, together with the Jesuit campaign, advocated strongly for this mechanism during a roundtable on energy, critical minerals, and finance—highlighting its potential to unify disparate initiatives under a framework rooted in human rights and environmental protection.

A Spirit That Continues Beyond the Summit

Beyond the formal negotiations, the experience in Belém left a lasting impression. The vitality of civil society, encounters with Indigenous peoples, and the warmth of interreligious engagement revealed the strength of global solidarity. More than 400 Catholic organisations signed a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to ecological conversion and the care of our common home.

Although COP30 has come to a close, the spirit of Belém—a blend of denunciation, solidarity, and celebration—remains alive. The Society of Jesus will continue working to ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are heard and that the struggle for climate justice advances with determination.