Children from Brazil receive Pre-COP participants with hand-written letters

Brasília, capital of Brazil, will be the center of climate discussions on October 13 and 14, when ministers, negotiators, and observers gather to prepare for COP30, which will take place from November 10 to 21 in the city of Belém. In a unique initiative by Alana and UNICEF, in partnership with the COP30 Presidency, decision-makers will be welcomed at the event with messages from Brazilian children and adolescents, along with a letter from COP30 President, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago.

The initiative gathered 1,300 messages, written and/or illustrated by children from 10 states and the Federal District, sharing their relationships with nature, describing how climate change affects their communities, and making direct appeals to global leaders. These messages were collected with support from civil society organizations, collectives, and schools, symbolizing a collective effort by the new generations for climate justice and a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future. 

“These letters represent both how climate issues are present in the thoughts and reflections of children and adolescents, and the spirit of collective effort and hope we need for climate multilateralism,” said JP Amaral, Nature Manager at Alana.

“Children and adolescents have their own visions, experiences, and opinions, which differ from those of adults — and precisely for that reason, must be heard. As they are the most impacted by climate change, we gathered and brought these letters so that negotiators at the Pre-COP make decisions based on the principle of intergenerational justice, keeping the words and requests of children in mind,” said Danilo Moura, Climate Change Specialist at UNICEF Brazil.

Some of the messages from children and adolescents include:

• “I want a beautiful future, full of trees where children can play.” — Eliza, 7, Alagoas
• “Brazil is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change, and it’s heading toward complete collapse. To love is to preserve.” — Gustavo, 16, Pará
• “I hope that you leaders who came to Brazil listen to the voices of all teenagers.” — Cauã, 15, Pará
• “I believe COP30 can change many things in the world and the future of my generation.” — Geovana, 14, Pará
• “At COP30, I hope there will be discussions about changing people’s behavior and raising awareness about global warming to create a better world.” — Valentina, 14, Pará
• “You must unite to preserve the Amazon.” — Mariana, 12, Minas Gerais
• “Environmental racism is a barrier to building a fairer and more sustainable climate future for everyone.” — Sara, 15, Paraíba

Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago has been calling for action ahead of COP30 to address climate challenges, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to accelerate the implementation of solutions in a new decade of joint action for the planet. In the letter to be delivered with the children's messages, he offers a new motivation for seeking these paths: “children and adolescents, who will live longer with the consequences of the decisions we make here and in Belém, are part of the answers. Therefore, it is up to us, global leaders, to honor this trust and ensure climate hope for future generations.”

Partnership

This is not the first joint initiative by Alana and UNICEF to bring the voices of children and adolescents to climate decision-making spaces. In 2023, during COP28, they launched the film The Important Stuff, produced by UNICEF and Alana, featuring testimonies from 25 children across 12 countries sharing their concerns, hopes, and proposals in the face of the climate crisis. The film aimed to be the “last word” negotiators should hear before making decisions. The project includes six films showing what children think and feel about the planet’s future and what they would say to world leaders capable of driving necessary change.