At COP30 in Brazil, Ana Avila says she鈥檚 witnessing a turning point for environmental action, and for her country.聽
Avila, a PhD candidate at 蘑菇短视频 whose trip was made possible by the Bieler School of Environment through a Bieler Experiential learning Fund (BELF) calls the conference 鈥減robably the best鈥� so far in her career. Held in Bel茅m, the port city and gateway to Brazil鈥檚 lower Amazon region, the summit has brought together scientists, governments, NGOs and the largest Indigenous presence in COP history.
鈥淭his is tangible,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to see, but there鈥檚 still a long way to go.鈥�
For Avila, the stakes are personal. "This is my home, and I am committed to protecting it," she said.
Brazil holds most of the Amazon, a biome she calls critical to preventing 鈥渋mminent collapse.鈥� She points to pledges for zero deforestation by 2030 and new funding initiatives, including the Tropical Forest Forever Fund, as signs of progress.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of the way Brazil has handled this,鈥� she said, noting efforts to pair protection with restoration and bioeconomy strategies that make standing forests more valuable than cleared land.
Still, contradictions remain. Brazil recently authorized oil extraction in the Amazon Delta, even as COP30 negotiators push for a global transition away from fossil fuels. Not unlike other countries who have hosted past COP conferences. 鈥淭he hypocrisy is unfortunate,鈥� Avila said.
Avila is commited to furthering collaborative efforts between the global North and South and was inspired to meet other Brazilians, like herself, who are researching abroad which is bringing the North-South divide closer together.
鈥淚 believe that this very much the way to go forward. So, it's been also very inspiring here to meet other Brazilians who are working abroad.鈥�
Despite contradictions in climate policies world-wide, Avila says she has hope to bridge global and local efforts. At 蘑菇短视频, she鈥檚 developing models to guide reforestation investments and says the conference has sparked ideas for collaboration with Brazil鈥檚 Ministry of Environment.
鈥淭he solutions rarely comes from one point,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e stronger together.鈥�
For her, that means ensuring Brazil leads on forest protection, and that science informs every step.