When I first learned that the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, would be held in Brazil, in the heart of the Amazon, I was hopeful. After years of following climate negotiations from a distance, this felt like a moment where young people like me — and the girls I work with — might finally have a seat at the table.
But just months before the event, the barriers to participation are overwhelming. For most young people, even those who live in Brazil, getting to Belém, the COP30 host city, feels nearly impossible. It’s not for lack of interest or experience. It’s because of cost, logistics, and a lack of meaningful access to decision-making spaces.
As a young Brazilian woman working directly with girls and traditional communities affected by climate crises, I see the effects of exclusion every day.