📋 Tender Overview
In one of the debates on the opening day of COP30, this Monday (10/11), in Belem, representatives of governments, international organizations and civil society discussed how the climate crisis deepens inequalities and disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations. The topic was addressed by the Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Combating Hunger, Wellington Dias, in the panel The fundamental role of combating hunger and poverty for climate justice.
On the occasion, the minister highlighted that the climate emergency cannot be understood solely as an environmental problem, as its effects fall more intensely on poor communities, indigenous peoples, family farmers, women and children. He argued that the climate agenda must be linked to social protection policies and the strengthening of sustainable livelihoods.
The climate crisis is human, social and deeply unequal. It is the poorest who feel its impacts first and most strongly
According to Wellington Dias, income transfer programs, school meals, solidarity kitchens, access to water and incentives for family production are essential to guarantee resilience and dignity in the face of climate change. The climate crisis is human, social and deeply unequal. It is the poorest who feel the impacts first and most strongly: loss of food, reduction in income, water insecurity and economic vulnerability, he stated.
There is no climate justice possible without tackling hunger and poverty. Ensuring climate resilience means ensuring dignity. Social protection networks, family farming and socio-biodiversity are pillars of this transition, continued the minister.
Still on the importance of family farming, the minister recalled that these groups are responsible for a large part of food production in the country and maintain fundamental practices and knowledge for the conservation of ecosystems and adaptation to the effects of global warming.
There is no food security or climate resilience without those who take care of the land, waters and seeds. Family farming is on the front line of climate change, and traditional people are guardians of genetic diversity and biomes. Strengthening them is strengthening the basis of a fair transition, declared the MDS head.
Belem Declaration
Minister Wellington Dias also highlighted the Belem Declaration on Hunger, Poverty and People-Centered Climate Action, proposed by Brazil at COP30, as a historic step forward to put the social dimension back at the center of global climate action. Hunger and poverty are, today, markers of climate injustice, and the declaration is a historic step forward, he emphasized.
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, also participated in the panel and reinforced the message by highlighting the relevance of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, launched by Brazil during the G20 presidency. According to her, the initiative represents a new paradigm of international cooperation by recognizing that inequality is a structural part of the climate crisis.
Marina recalled that global warming is already altering food systems, causing crop losses, population displacement and increased vulnerability in several regions of the world.
The Global Alliance is a call to lead by example. President Lula has shown that tackling inequalities is an inseparable part of the climate agenda. Climate change worsens food insecurity, destroys livelihoods and pressures entire communities to leave their territories. This is not an isolated problem: it is a global challenge, which requires global, coordinated and sustained responses, he stated.
At the end of the meeting, Wellington Dias reinforced the invitation for more countries and organizations to endorse the Declaration of Belem and support its implementation, stating that facing hunger and poverty is an essential condition to guarantee a sustainable, inclusive and truly fair future.
and recommends that nations continue investing in mitigation, but that they prioritize adaptation, especially human-centered measures, such as social protection, crop insurance and other instruments that promote population resilience. She also advocates that climate financing should focus on projects that generate opportunities, jobs and livelihoods for family farmers, traditional communities and forest people.
Communication Advisory - MDS
