More than 80 Brazilian lawmakers — including federal and state deputies, senators, and city councilors — have already signed the Parliamentarians’ Letter to the COP30 Presidency, launched this Wednesday (July 16) during a formal session in the plenary of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies in Brasília. The initiative calls for the formal recognition of the role of legislative bodies in global climate governance.
The proposal is coordinated nationally by Plataforma CIPÓ and Clima de Política, and led internationally by GLOBE Legislators. The letter was officially presented during the General Commission held to discuss the Brazilian Parliament’s engagement in preparations for COP30.
The document calls for the creation of a formal space for parliamentary participation within the structure of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Its main demand is the establishment of a parliamentary constituency — similar to the one created for local and municipal governments in 1995.
According to its signatories, this inclusion is essential to ensure that elected representatives — senators, deputies, and councilors — have a continuous and active voice in international climate discussions, especially given the challenge of implementing the Paris Agreement.
“This letter is a crucial step toward institutionalizing parliamentary engagement in global climate governance. It is essential that parliaments not only follow the process but also actively shape the direction of negotiations and the implementation of climate commitments,” said Murilo Amatneeks, Advocacy Coordinator at Plataforma CIPÓ.
Plataforma CIPÓ, which works to promote just climate governance and environmental justice, has been actively advocating for greater parliamentary involvement in international climate decision-making. The articulation of this letter is part of these efforts, seeking formal recognition of parliaments as key actors in tackling the climate crisis.
The letter also highlights the legislative branch’s strategic role in drafting laws, overseeing executive action, and ensuring transparency — especially during times of political instability. It further emphasizes the need for a just, inclusive, and equitable climate transition, with the meaningful participation of Black, Indigenous, quilombola, rural, peripheral, and traditional communities.
The letter will remain open for endorsements from both Brazilian and international lawmakers until COP30, which is scheduled to take place in November 2025, in Belém, Pará. The initiative aims to expand parliamentary engagement in climate negotiations and bolster Brazil’s leadership in ambitious, democratic, and rights-based climate action.
The General Commission session that marked the launch of the letter was requested by parliamentarians from different political parties as part of the activities for Environment Week.
