With coordination by Plataforma CIPÓ, OPCC, and partner organizations, Latin American lawmakers released a joint declaration this Thursday (11/13) in Belém and delivered the document to the Conference’s CEO.
By Mariana Franco Ramos
Members of parliament from Latin America and the Caribbean took a decisive step this Thursday (13), during COP30 in Belém, to strengthen the role of legislative bodies in climate governance. At an event organized by the Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC) and Plataforma CIPÓ, they launched the ALC Joint Parliamentary Declaration for COP30 and delivered the document to the Conference’s CEO, Ana Toni.
Held at the UN Brazil Pavilion, the interparliamentary dialogue brought together more than 40 federal lawmakers, as well as representatives from state assemblies, municipal councils, and legislatures from other countries, including Argentina, Peru, and Ecuador. The broad presence highlights the growing parliamentary influence at COP30, driven by the coordination of Plataforma CIPÓ, OPCC, and partner organizations.
During the opening session, CIPÓ’s Director of Programs, Mariana Rondon, emphasized the importance of the legislative role in ensuring the implementation of climate policies and strengthening a just transition across the region. Throughout the discussion, lawmakers underscored the need to align national legal frameworks with the goals of the Paris Agreement and to build mechanisms for regional cooperation to accelerate climate action.
The highlight of the event was the delivery of the Joint Declaration by Senator Leila Barros (PDT–DF), President of the COP30 Subcommittee in Brazil’s Federal Senate, to COP30 CEO Ana Toni. The senator stressed that coordinated involvement of lawmakers is essential to ensure institutional continuity and legislative support for the commitments adopted by countries.
Upon receiving the document, Ana Toni emphasized the importance of strengthening legislative participation spaces within the COPs, noting that the success of the implementation phase depends directly on legal frameworks, oversight, and institutional stability in the signatory countries.
Parliamentary Engagement Advances at COP30
The launch of the Joint Declaration and its delivery to the Conference leadership consolidate a strategy of parliamentary climate diplomacy, aimed at building a unified regional voice in support of a just transition and Latin American integration around the climate agenda. The document will remain open for endorsement by lawmakers, public authorities, and institutions from various countries, expanding the support network for its proposals.
The initiative adds to a set of coordinated actions led by Plataforma CIPÓ and partners to strengthen legislative presence at COP30, connecting technical debates, proposals, and multilateral commitments with the urgency of concrete responses to the climate crisis.
Environmental Parliamentary Front Discusses NDC Implementation
Also on Thursday (13), the Environmental Parliamentary Front, in partnership with OPCC and with support from Plataforma CIPÓ and Clima de Política, held the panel “The Role of Parliament in the NDC Implementation Agenda” at the Brazil Pavilion.
The meeting brought together lawmakers, experts, and civil society organizations to discuss how legislatures can strengthen the execution of Brazil’s climate targets, increase national ambition, and ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy is just.
During the panel, federal representative Dandara (PT–MG) emphasized the urgency of formalizing parliamentary diplomacy within the COPs. In her words, it is necessary to “organize strategically,” ensuring lawmakers have institutional presence in negotiation and decision-making processes.
Dandara reminded attendees that “it is Parliament that will translate agreements into bills and public policies,” advocating for national legislatures to take ownership of this role. She also highlighted the declaration, encouraging Brazilian and foreign lawmakers to sign and disseminate the document within their networks. She recalled her involvement in the Environmental Parliamentary Front, reinforcing the importance of expanding coordination among legislators to strengthen NDC implementation.
The Day Before, Lawmakers Delivered a Letter to the UNFCCC Secretariat
On Wednesday (12), Brazilian lawmakers met with the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), during which they delivered the “Letter from Parliamentarians for the Recognition of Parliaments in Global Climate Governance.” The initiative, also led by Plataforma CIPÓ and Clima de Política, reinforces the call for legislatures to have more structured participation in international climate decision-making processes.
The combination of these two moments — the delivery of the letter to the UNFCCC Secretariat and of the OPCC Declaration — signals a qualitative step forward in parliamentary engagement at COP30, consolidating the legislative branch as a crucial link between international commitments and their effective implementation in each country.
Throughout COP30, more than 17 parliamentary events organized by CIPÓ and partners are taking place, with over 150 accredited lawmakers present in Belém.
