CBioClima's participation in a panel during COP30 reinforced the strategic role of science in addressing the climate crisis.

By: Gabriela Andrietta

The Biodiversity and Climate Change Research Center (CBioClima), based at UNESP in Rio Claro, participated in the AMAZON ALWAYS Station, an initiative held during COP30 by the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), through the regional program Amazon Always, in partnership with the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI).

From November 8th to 21st, in Belém, the AMAZON ALWAYS Station hosted a dynamic program, carried out with a broad network of organizations selected through a public call. The space was conceived to promote inclusive and transformative dialogues about the future of the Amazon during the conference, highlighting urgent themes such as biodiversity, climate change, bioeconomy, and socio-environmental justice. The collaborative station hosted more than 120 events, bringing together representatives from the eight Amazonian countries and more than 50 partners.

The participation of CBioClima and UNESP in two panels of the AMAZÔNIA SEMPRE Station was coordinated by Professor Newton La Scala Júnior, who leads the university's Sustainability Office and is also an associate researcher at CBioClima.

CBioClima participated in the conception and debates of the panel "Connecting Biodiversity Monitoring to Climate Change in Tropical Ecosystems," held on November 9th in the auditorium of the Goeldi Museum. Moderated by Hugo Fernandes (State University of Ceará), the panel discussed the central role of ecological monitoring systems, time series, and research networks in building effective responses to the climate crisis in tropical ecosystems, regions that harbor a large part of the planet's biodiversity but also face great risks of environmental degradation.

Representing CBioClima were Professor Dr. Patrícia Morellato, Director of the Center, and Professor [Name missing from original text]. Dr. Mauro Galetti, Dissemination Coordinator, both from UNESP. The panel also included Alexandre Aleixo (ITV) and Mariana Vale (UFRJ).

At the end of the symposium, there was a book signing session for *A Naturalist in the Anthropocene*, by Mauro Galetti — a work that brings together science and personal narrative by reflecting on human impacts on nature.

In addition to coordinating UNESP's institutional participation in COP30, Newton La Scala Júnior led the panel “Sustainability Actions in Universities: What to do post-COP30?”, held on November 17, 2025, also at the AMAZÔNIA SEMPRE Station. The event discussed the role of universities as centers for training professionals prepared to face the climate challenges of the future and highlighted the need to implement concrete actions for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. The institutions were presented as “small cities” that should lead by example by adopting internal decarbonization and adaptation measures.

The debate also addressed specific sustainability challenges in different biomes, especially in the Amazon, and the potential of the bioeconomy to boost regional development.

Newton highlighted that “those who defend science deserve all our respect,” recognizing the dedication of the teams involved in building the AMAZÔNIA SEMPRE Station and in strengthening UNESP's institutional participation in COP30.

UNESP's participation in COP30 reinforced the role of universities as agents of social transformation, integrating teaching, research, outreach, and sustainable management.