What paths can lead to concrete solutions for the climate crisis and just, sustainable development? With this question in mind, leaders from 15 countries gathered on July 17–18, 2025, at Palácio Anchieta in Vitória, Brazil, for the Global Policy Dialogue: Promoting Climate Finance and Just Transitions on the Road to COP30. The event brought together over 100 representatives from governments, parliaments, multilateral organizations, foundations, academia, and civil society.
Organized by Plataforma CIPÓ, in partnership with the state government of Espírito Santo, the event was supported by the French Embassy in Brazil, the Institute for Climate and Society (iCS), the Heinrich Böll Foundation, the Global Challenges Foundation, and the Global Governance Innovation Network.
Strategic Topics on the Agenda
Over the course of two days, discussions were structured around thematic sessions and working groups focused on three main pillars:
Climate finance for developing countries — with a special focus on the Baku-Belem Roadmap and the mobilization of US$1.3 trillion in climate finance;
Just transitions — emphasizing social inclusion, rights protection, and the creation of sustainable jobs in decarbonization processes;
International climate governance — exploring ways to turn commitments into effective action and ensure implementation of national and multilateral goals.
High-Level Participation
The GPD featured the participation of Brazilian governors Renato Casagrande (Espírito Santo) and Carlos Brandão (Maranhão), as well as representatives from the federal government, including Fernanda Santiago, Special Advisor to the Ministry of Finance; Felipe Hees, climate negotiator and Brazil’s G20 representative; and Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, President of COP30, who engaged in several sessions, including dialogues with subnational governments.
Paul Watkinson, former Chair of the SBSTA/UNFCCC and senior climate negotiator, shared insights on the challenges of implementing global commitments. Climate governance and finance were discussed by experts and representatives from institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), WRI India, the Energy Transition Fund, I4CE (France), ECLAC, the European Union, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Alice Amorim, COP30 Program Director, played a central role in the event, moderating sessions and discussing the preparations for the Belem conference.
Maiara Folly, Executive Director of Plataforma CIPÓ, opened and closed the GPD, emphasizing the importance of coordination across sectors and levels of government to transform promises into concrete policies.
Outcomes and Next Steps
Held under the Chatham House Rule, the event will result in an executive summary with recommendations for governments and international organizations, to be published in the coming weeks.
The GPD also reinforced the need to strengthen the role of subnational governments and ensure that COP30 delivers on the effective implementation of climate commitments — especially in the Global South.
Videos featuring key moments from the discussions will be released soon.
