COP30 in the Amazon: The critical role of people, transport, and data in climate resilience and action

Belém was vibrant, welcoming, and a memorable place to experience COP for the first time in Amazonia. It was my first time in the city, and it definitely made an impression, greeting us with proper Amazonian weather: hot, very humid. 

Walking into my first COP felt like stepping into an entirely different world, with a global conversation already in full flow, conducted in a new language of acronyms, abbreviations, and technical terms. The first two days were a bit overwhelming – thousands of people, dozens of parallel events, and an incredible amount of information surrounding you at once. However, once you get used to the pace, it becomes a truly fascinating environment. 

What struck me immediately was the diversity. COP brings together people from every corner of the world, all with different cultures, languages, and lived experiences of climate change, exposing you to so many perspectives, disciplines and ideas in such a short time. I heard people speak about their cultural norms, how their communities work with nature, combining tradition with science. COP introduced me to people and regions I may never have encountered otherwise, which was one of the most enriching parts of the experience. Despite different backgrounds and sectors, there is a very clear sense of shared purpose around strengthening resilience and adaptation.  

While much of the media focuses heavily on the Blue Zone negotiations, there is so much happening around them. Pavilions host panel discussions, workshops, and research showcases, and side events bring together science, policy, and practice in a dynamic, collaborative way. COP30 hosted the first-ever Transport Pavilion, co-organised by the Brazilian government and the Sustainable, Low-Carbon Transport (SLOCAT) Partnership, which finally gave transport a dedicated platform in the climate dialogue. It was also the first COP to have a dedicated Science Pavilion (the Planetary Science Pavilion/Science for Climate Action Pavilion), which brought together scientific evidence and climate policy. 

I prioritised attending events linked to my research interests: resilience and adaptation of critical infrastructure, flood management, the role of data and technology in disaster risk reduction, and capacity building for multi-stakeholders and communities. Across these sessions, I had the chance to speak with a range of experts, from local city officials to international organisations, and to share resources and build connections.  

One particular session that drew my attention was “Building climate-resilient transport systems: Empowered by geospatial data,” hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The session highlighted how geospatial data can help transform uncertainty into foresight, supporting evidence-based decision-making for transport resilience.  

Speakers emphasised the complexity of resilience, noting that while transport faces multiple hazards (e.g. rainfall, heatwave, landslides), with far-reaching implications for safety and well-being, supply chains, and economies, transport systems are also interconnected and long-lived. Thus, while existing systems need to adapt to current conditions, new infrastructure must anticipate future climates. The session also introduced the International Transport Infrastructure Observatory (ITIO), which provides information on transport infrastructure and nodes, as well as future climate change model impacts.  

A recurring theme across many sessions was that cities and countries face very similar data challenges. Access to data is essential, but not sufficient on its own: there also needs to be the capacity to analyse, interpret, and translate it into actionable insights. Several speakers emphasised that communities must be part of this process – people need to feel empowered to contribute, and authorities must create the conditions for meaningful engagement. Hearing this echoed across regions reinforced just how central multi-level stakeholder engagement is to effective climate resilience, and the shared responsibility we have among researchers, policymakers, and communities.  

My first COP was inspiring, intense, and deeply motivating, and it reinforced the importance of staying engaged in these global conversations. I met an extraordinary number of committed people, including researchers, policymakers, youth groups and community leaders, working across borders and disciplines towards climate action. The sense of shared purpose was tangible, and the dedication and creativity people bring were inspiring.  

Nevertheless, debates persist over whether the COP model keeps pace with the urgency of the climate crisis, as many feel the process can be complex, slow, and uneven. Experiencing COP first-hand offered a more nuanced perspective and left me with a mixture of cautious optimism and realism.  

On the one hand, COP remains unique in that it provides a global platform for almost every nation, plus observers, scientists and civil society to meet under one roof to negotiate climate action, share learnings, diverse perspectives, and coordinate approaches across borders. That alone is enormously valuable. Furthermore, The Paris Agreement remains a major diplomatic achievement, and having a common global framework still matters enormously, as without it, progress toward decarbonisation and adaptation would likely have been slower.  

However, the global stocktake underscored that current national commitments and implementation trajectories are not sufficient to keep 1.5°C within reach. Many delegates asked why, if science has been unambiguous for so long, action has been so slow. With several countries submitting their Nationally Determined Contributions late and with the system relying heavily on voluntary contributions, accountability remains a major gap.  

Strengthening collective accountability is essential. To keep 1.5°C within reach, national governments will need to provide stronger support to local and regional authorities, cities, universities and communities – all key players who can help accelerate practical action on the ground. Research institutions can contribute to education, capacity building, and public engagement to help advance climate ambition. While the Global Mutirão decision did not include explicit commitments to a fossil fuel phase-out or a binding halt to deforestation, it now falls to the Brazilian Presidency to advance these critical roadmaps, essential for keeping the 1.5 °C goal within reach.

For a more interactive overview of my COP30 reflections, including background on the UNFCCC process and practical preparation resources, you can explore the accompanying StoryMap here.