Three Richardson students, Steven Manso (‘26), Anna Maidment (‘27), and Justice Castroverde-Moniz (‘27), attended COP 30 in Belém, Brazil—the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference that brought together delegates from more than 190 countries in the heart of the Amazon region. Each shared their unique experiences, from navigating high-level negotiations on climate change to connecting with frontline advocates and youth organizers from around the world.

Steven Manso:

Start of the Conference

Kicking off the start of this unique opportunity to learn about global perspectives on climate change, on Day 1, I collected my badge as part of the University of Hawaiʻi delegation, caught a panel on Climate Mobility in the Greater Caribbean region at the Global Centre for Climate Mobility Pavillion, and witnessed the opening statements of the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion.

Preserving Human Rights & Threat of Fossil Fuel Expansion

At the start of Day 2, I heard from Representative Tania Romualdo from Cabo Verde on the importance of protecting human rights and upholding dignity of displaced populations amidst the climate crisis, especially for coastal communities. In the middle of the day, I also attended a session on the expansion of fossil fuels in Latin America and heard from an indigenous representative from Ecuador, Diana Chavez on the implications of this threat for Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon Rainforest.

Cultural & Youth Perspectives

I started Day 3 at the Indigenous Peoples Pavilion and successfully made my way to the Cuba Pavilion to learn about climate issues affecting my father’s home country. I also caught two cultural demonstrations at the China Pavilion and in the Green Zone, and wrapped up the day at the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion with a session of youth speakers on the ICJ Advisory Opinion and the next steps for matching ambition with enforceable expectations.

Inter-American Standards & Indigenous

On Day 4, I heard from various presenters at the Global Centre for Climate Mobility on climate displacement in Latin America and the significance of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights Advisory Opinion on climate change. I also attended a brief-drafting session for the International Indigenous Youth Forum for Climate Change in preparation for Friday’s constituency hearing with the COP Presidency, and heard from Kuna youth on the importance of preserving Indigenous cultures in the face of climate change.

Constituency Perspectives

On Day 5, I sat in on negotiations between States Parties and Commenting Constituencies on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, came out to support the speaker for the International Indigenous Youth Forum on Climate Change at the Plenary Session with the COP30 Presidency, attended a session on converting waste into reusable energy at the Singapore Pavilion, and took the final group photo outside the Action Rooms with the University of Hawaiʻi Delegation.

Mahalo Nui

Thank you so much GEE-21 and ELP for letting me be a part of this amazing experience, which expanded the depth of my knowledge on how place-based and culture-specific issues of climate change, and strengthened my understanding of the collective responsibility we all share in doing our part to mitigate climate change!

Anna Maidment:

I had the incredible opportunity to attend COP30, which took place from November 10–21, 2025 in Belém, Brazil. COP is shorthand  for the “Conference of the Parties,” and  is the highest global decision-making body on climate change under the UNFCCC. 

Every year, it brings together heads of state, negotiators, scientists, industry leaders, finance experts, and civil society to advance the goals of the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Located at the mouth of the Amazon, Belém symbolically links forests and oceans, which highlight the importance of these two ecosystems for climate regulation.

I was lucky enough to join  three other University of Hawaiʻi delegates as a representative of William S. Richardson School of the Law and the Environmental Law Program. There were over 45,000 attendees from across the world, with large Indigenous representation.

I attended COP30 with the goal of learning about how the practice of law can influence climate change at a local and international level. My focus was on ocean governance, marine protected areas, blue carbon ecosystems, and Hawaiʻi’s role in climate change. 

I attended many events, pavilions, plenaries, and negotiations throughout our week at COP; my key takeaways are below.

Blue Carbon Ecosystems

Blue carbon ecosystems help mitigate climate change through mangroves, seagrasses, salt marshes, and coral reefs which capture and store carbon. These ecosystems store 3–5 times more carbon per unit than tropical forests. They also protect communities from floods and storm surges. For example, mangroves shield over 15 million people and prevent $65B in flood damages annually. Countries are increasingly including blue carbon restoration and conservation efforts in their Nationally Determined Contributions.

Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration was a main theme of the Ocean Pavilion. For example, I learned that coastal wetlands and blue carbon ecosystems store around 50% of all carbon buried in ocean sediments, making them vital for climate mitigation. Conversely, degraded ecosystems release stored carbon, worsening climate impacts.

Marine Protected Areas and Marine Resilience

Marine protected areas strengthen marine ecosystem resilience, helping oceans recover from warming, acidification, coral bleaching, and deoxygenation. Ocean health is directly linked to climate regulation, sea-level stability, and protection of coastal communities. The Ocean Pavilion stressed that resilience depends on scientific monitoring and traditional Indigenous knowledge.

Canadian Pavilion

As a Canadian, I was drawn to the Canadian pavilion, and particularly  the value of First Nations climate leadership. This pavilion highlighted how First Nations people have consistently acted as defenders of the land and their teachings offer guidance for equitable and sustainable climate solutions. I found great similarities between Canada and Hawaiʻi with regards to the knowledge, wisdom, and strength of the Indigenous People and their role in mitigating climate change.

COP and the Law

Attending COP30 was an invaluable experience that strengthened my determination to pursue a career in environmental law in Hawaiʻi. It deepened my understanding of how international climate commitments translate to domestic regulatory and environmental actions.

Mahalo

I want to express a deep mahalo to everyone who made this experience possible for us in the University of Hawaiʻi delegation. This was a life changing experience!

Justice Castroverde-Moniz:

My time in Belém, Brazil, for COP30 was fascinating for many reasons and remains an
experience I am deeply grateful for. During the conference, I spent much of my time exploring
various pavilions, attending presentations, and engaging with fellow attendees and pavilion
coordinators. These interactions provided invaluable insights into how different regions are
responding to the global climate crisis.

As someone from Hawaiʻi, I was naturally drawn to the Moana Pacific Pavilion, where many of the presentations resonated deeply with my personal and academic interests. On my first day, I spent nearly the entire time there learning about the pressing challenges faced by Pacific communities due to climate change. One issue that especially moved me was the growing scarcity of safe drinking water. Sea-level rise is causing saltwater intrusion into aquifers that sustain many Pacific Islands, contaminating drinking water sources and threatening livelihoods. This reality is especially heartbreaking because these communities contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions yet endure the most severe consequences.

During COP30, one of the Moana Pacific Pavilion organizers invited me to participate in an interview. While I was honored to share my perspective as someone from Hawaiʻi, what struck me most were the stories shared by other presenters and community members from across the Pacific. Their experiences reflected a deep resilience in the face of climate challenges; and hearing their voices reinforced my understanding of how interconnected our struggles and hopes truly are.

Despite the heavy discussions that surround climate injustices, a sense of unity and pride could be felt throughout COP30. It was uplifting to see representatives from around the world share their cultures, languages, and traditions at the UNFCCC. That cross-cultural exchange reminded me that climate action, at its core, is not just about policies and negotiations; it is about people, resilience, and shared responsibility.