The Care Pavilion at COP30
The Care Pavilion continues to consolidate itself as an innovative space for positioning the care agenda within major multilateral debates, this time at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) in Belém, Brazil.
Following earlier editions held at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (Seville, June 30 – July 3, 2025) and the XVI Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean (Mexico City, August 12–15, 2025), a new edition was organized as part of COP30, with support from the Care and Climate Initiative, Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Fundación Avina and Instituto Procomum, and in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development, Family and Fight Against Hunger of the Government of Brazil, Rádio Savia, and UN Women Brazil.
This edition, held on November 15 and 16 at Espaço EcoAmazônias (R. dos Tamoios, 624 – Jurunas, Belém do Pará, Brazil), placed particular emphasis on the intersection between care and climate action, a priority topic for the Alliance’s membership in the context of COP30. Throughout the program, the Pavilion helped deepen understanding of the links between care and climate change, promoted the integration of this perspective into policy and climate finance, and highlighted the essential role of women and grassroots communities in adaptation and mitigation efforts through care work. It also strengthened the leadership of member organizations in international negotiation processes and elevated local experiences working at the care–climate nexus in both Amazonian territories and urban contexts.
The first day of the Pavilion opened with the Inaugural brunch of the Care Pavilion, bringing together members and partner organizations in a welcoming environment to begin the activities. The program continued with “COP30 in Belém: What can Amazon cities teach us about care policies and climate justice?”, which opened the space for dialogue by examining how climate change directly affects care systems and deepens structural inequalities. The session also explored the role of climate finance in strengthening care systems and presented local initiatives such as Ver-o-Cuidado, along with the report Centering care in climate finance.
Next came “Care methodologies: knowledge and practices in the construction of living territories”, a conversation that highlighted community knowledge and practices for building living territories where care is understood as a pillar of sustainability and collective action. This was followed by “Bridging care and climate justice: the SOS Family Support Center in the Abelha community, Amazon”, which illustrated how community-based work with families and children can strengthen resilience and advance climate justice.
The first day concluded with “Caring while walking: walkable cities for the climate and everyday life”, a space dedicated to reflecting on walkability as a daily practice of care and a crucial contribution to climate action. The discussion emphasized how walkable cities can promote well-being and reduce inequalities exacerbated by climate impacts.
The second day opened with the participatory workshop “Caring and defending in times of climate crisis”, which combined political reflection, self-care, and collective protection strategies, highlighting experiences of communities that sustain care in contexts marked by environmental violence. Later, the panel “Climate and care from the dimensions of gender, race, class and territory” examined how the climate crisis intensifies intersectional inequalities and why an integrated perspective is necessary to design inclusive and just responses. The final session, “Centering care in just transitions and climate action: elevating grassroots voices”, amplified the experiences and proposals of grassroots organizations from the Global South, demonstrating how integrating care into climate policies and transition frameworks strengthens resilience and equity.
The program closed with a reception expressing appreciation for the commitment of all participating organizations and reaffirming the importance of advancing an international agenda that integrates care and climate action as inseparable pillars.
Throughout the event, the Pavilion featured permanent public spaces. The Care tent offered an environment for rest, emotional support, and integrated care practices facilitated by health professionals and community caregivers. The Cuidadería provided a safe, creative space for children, recognizing them as political actors and promoting play, learning, and intergenerational care. The exhibition by the Global Alliance for Care presented principles, definitions, and good practices illustrating the “five Rs” of care. Finally, the photo exhibition Art to care: visions from the frontlines of climate and care showcased stories and perspectives from Global South communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis, offering powerful images that revealed care as a driver of resilience and transformation.
The Care Pavilion at COP30 is part of the Global Alliance for Care’s 2025–2030 Strategic Priorities, defined through a participatory process with all members, with the aim of strengthening the presence of care in multilateral spaces and promoting a transformative vision that places care at the center of sustainable development.
