Today in Focus Cop ahoy! Sailing up the Amazon to the climate summit
Nov 10, 2025
Jonathan Watts, a global environmental reporter and founder of Sumoma, embarks on a three-day Amazon boat trip, gathering insights from indigenous leaders and scientists ahead of COP30. He discusses the significance of Belém as a summit location and why indigenous representation is crucial. Watts shares stories of environmental threats facing native communities, explores the challenges of climate finance, and reflects on what can be achieved through collective imagination and leadership. His journey highlights both urgency and hope in combating climate change.
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Belém Forces Confrontation With Reality
- Hosting COP30 in Belém forces delegates to confront visible inequality, climate impacts and rainforest loss rather than hiding in luxury.
- Jonathan Watts argues that being in the Amazon makes it harder for visitors to ignore the climate crisis and its social dimensions.
Tropical Forest Forever Facility Explained
- Brazil presents the Tropical Forest Forever Facility to attract $25bn of investment and leverage up to $125bn for forest protection.
- The plan shifts from donations toward investment bonds to generate recurring funds for tropical forest conservation.
COP30 Faces Political And Funding Headwinds
- COP30 faces acute geopolitical headwinds: distracted global attention, leadership divisions and the US outside the Paris framework.
- Watts stresses that success depends on the global north stepping up with finance and emissions cuts while Brazil pushes an ambitious agenda.