The government formalizes the structure of COP30 and highlights the role of André Corrêa do Lago and Ana Toni in leading the event.
Decree signed by Alckmin defines positions and functions for the climate conference to be held in Belém between November 10 and 21.
247 - The federal government formalized, through a decree published in this Wednesday's edition (26) of the Official Gazette of the Union, the creation of the COP30 Presidency, in addition to approving the framework of positions and attributions of the structure that will command the organization of the largest environmental event on the planet, the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will be held in Belém do Pará, from November 10 to 21.
Signed by acting president Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), the decree establishes that the COP30 Presidency will function until December 1, 2026. The measure formalizes the appointment of Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago as president of the conference, a position he has held since January 21 by decision of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), and of economist Ana Toni as executive director.
The structure will consist of appointed positions and trusted roles reassigned from the Civil House and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which, according to the government, guarantees the organization of the conference without increasing public spending. The decree also details the responsibilities of both the presidency and the executive board of COP30.
As the conference's main political representative, Corrêa do Lago will have the mission of leading negotiations, mediating consensus among the more than 190 participating countries, and promoting the engagement of non-state actors – such as companies, NGOs, and scientific communities – capable of contributing concrete solutions to combat the climate crisis. The executive director will be responsible for supporting the president in defining guidelines, implementing strategic actions, and coordinating the overall work streams of the event.
André Corrêa do Lago has extensive experience in environmental diplomacy. An economist graduated from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), he entered the diplomatic career in 1982 and has held various positions in Brazil and abroad, focusing on climate, energy, and the environment. He was Brazil's chief negotiator at multiple international conferences, including Rio+20. He represented the country as ambassador to Japan (2013–2018) and India (2018–2023), and is currently the Secretary of Climate, Energy and Environment at Itamaraty (the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). He was also the main negotiator for the Brazilian delegation at COP28 (United Arab Emirates) and COP29 (Azerbaijan).
Ana Toni, for her part, has a career marked by environmental and social activism. A PhD in Political Science and an economist, she served as executive director of the Climate and Society Institute (ICS) and chaired the board of Greenpeace International. She has also worked for organizations such as the Ford Foundation, ActionAid Brazil, and the Gold Standard Group, in addition to serving on the boards of entities focused on racial equity and sustainable development. Currently, she is part of the Network of Brazilian Women Leaders for Sustainability.
The formalization of the COP30 structure marks another step in the organization process of the event, which will be the largest ever held in the Amazon region and is expected to bring together heads of state, experts, scientists, and representatives of civil society from around the world to discuss solutions to address climate change. The government expects COP30 to be a milestone for the Amazon and for consolidating Brazil's leading role in the global climate agenda.
