The participation and leadership of women and racialized populations (such as Afro-descendants, Indigenous people, and traditional communities) from the Global South in climate action are essential for building truly inclusive and sustainable solutions. In the context of global events such as the G20 and COP29, these voices bring ancestral knowledge and unique perspectives on the relationship between people and nature. Women and racialized communities are on the frontlines of climate change impacts, and their resilience, experience, and leadership pave transformative pathways toward climate justice for all people and the planet.
Amplifying their voices in these spaces not only enriches global debate but also promotes climate action with a diverse approach that respects human rights and envisions a just and sustainable future. The presence of the Hivos team at the Social G20 in Rio de Janeiro and COP29 in Baku is an important opportunity to strengthen Hivos’ strategic role as a connector of movements and a promoter of alliances within the Global South. These events will help raise visibility for our projects in Brazil and contribute to shaping the Journey to Belém strategy for COP30, reaffirming our commitment to social and climate justice.
Our Participation in the G20
The Hivos Brazil team is pleased to announce a side event at the G20, coinciding with the official conference in Rio de Janeiro. This side event, titled «Just Transition and Climate Emergency: The Role and Leadership of Women in the Global South,» is organized by Hivos in partnership with the Instituto Equit, ACESA, and Akina Mama wa Afrika. At this event, we will discuss the importance of solutions led by women from the Global South to promote a just transition and tackle the climate emergency.
Experts and leaders from various organizations will share their experiences and local practices, exploring topics ranging from the female economy to global governance. A new study on intersectional feminist climate action will also be launched. Among the panelists will be Graciela Rodrigues from Instituto Equit, Vanessa Cristina from ACESA, Mariana Galdino from Instituto Decodifica, Essia Guezzi from Hivos Tunisia, and Faith Lumonya from Akina Mama wa Afrika.
Our Participation at COP29: Journey to Belém
Our efforts in Brazil aim to build a journey to Belém that addresses global challenges while remaining rooted in the local context. We believe that by creating a shared agenda, we can unite diverse territories, regions, and movements, aligning policies that directly confront the climate crisis while addressing the gender and racial climate injustices inherent to climate impacts.
Our Climate Justice Programs
Climate change is a political, social, and ethical issue, more than merely an environmental one. It is caused by an unsustainable economic model that gradually destabilizes everything we need and want while distributing wealth and power unequally across the world. At the same time, it exacerbates inequality by disproportionately affecting those with the least responsibility. Low-income people and countries with long histories of oppression face the worst impacts of climate change, despite being the least responsible for causing it.
In this context, Hivos works with key rights groups and social movements from the Global South to put their priorities and representation at the heart of global climate action. By establishing alliances focused on innovative solutions, we develop initiatives in the fight for climate justice, gender equity, and human rights.
Voices for Climate Action (VCA)
Through the VCA program, Hivos builds capacity for more than 40 civil society organizations, including Indigenous Peoples, quilombolas, and traditional and local communities, to lead the fight against climate change. We work to amplify their voices in national and global spaces, ensuring that their knowledge and resilience are central to designing inclusive climate solutions. By building strategic alliances with artivists and leaders, we provide these communities with the platforms and resources needed to influence climate policies and shape sustainable, just futures.
Girls of the World Making Change
The MANAS project, also known as G2C2, focuses on positioning young women and girls in Brazil, Indonesia, Uganda, and Nepal as key players in climate action. Through leadership development, advocacy training, and creating safe spaces for collaboration, MANAS amplifies the voices of young leaders in the climate justice movement. We connect their local efforts with actions across countries, building a common global action agenda towards COP30 and investing in their innovative ideas to create a fair and equitable response to the climate crisis.
The Health Route in the Amazon and Climate Change
This project aims to identify how climate change affects the health of Indigenous Peoples (Kraho and Gavião) by analyzing the challenges, perceptions, knowledge, and best local practices. Through promoting intercultural dialogues and adaptation measures, the project contributes to improving the health of Indigenous Peoples. Through these actions, we foster the dissemination of results and lessons learned to mobilize actions and propose policies that benefit these communities.
Feminist Futures Initiative
The initiative connects young leaders in Brazil, promoting dialogue between racialized groups, traditional and local communities, and urban peripheries. It advocates for inclusive public policies and increased funding for women-led climate initiatives. We believe that by bringing together diverse communities and promoting intergenerational dialogue, we strengthen the leadership of young women in climate action. This initiative also seeks to support women-led projects connected to the care economy and a just economic transition.
