The Forest Stewardship Council at COP 30 Uniting stakeholders around forest solutions for climate action Learn more about COP 30 → United Nations Climate Change Conference The 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 30), taking place from November 10–21 in Belém, Brazil, marks a critical milestone in global climate action as countries prepare to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Amazon’s symbolic and ecological importance underscores the urgency of placing forests at the centre of climate solutions. The COP 30 Presidency is emphazing forests as a key theme with the launch of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF) – making it a decisive event about the future of the world’s forests. FSC / Emilio White Forests are natural solutions to climate change One of the most effective ways to combat climate change is with healthy, resilient forests. They absorb over 7 billion tonnes of CO₂ each year, while supporting biodiversity, water systems, and livelihoods. Responsible forest management is a proven, scalable nature-based solution that protects ecosystems, supports sustainable development, and delivers measurable climate benefits. See how → Find us at COP 30 Given the urgency of the climate crisis, the historic opportunity for forest and climate decision-making, and the significance of being present and advocating for forest stewardship and nature-based solutions while some stakeholders are stepping back, FSC and the FSC Indigenous Foundation will be attending COP 30. To ensure the most effective engagement, our delegation will rotate badges throughout the conference. We invite you to contact our delegates in advance or during the event to arrange a meeting. FSC Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General, FSC Sharon London, Partnerships Director, FSC I&P Anand Punja, Director of Stakeholder Relations, FSC Elson Fernandes, Executive Director, FSC Brasil Niamh Brannigan, Head of Communications, FSC FSC Indigenous Foundation Minnie Degawan, Managing Director, FSC Indigenous Foundation Nadia Gomez, FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee Representative for South America Olga Kostrova, FSC Permanent Indigenous Peoples Committee Representative for Russia Carlos Blandon, Community Development Program Leader, FSC Indigenous Foundation Maria De Leon, Head of Communications, FSC Indigenous Foundation Join us at side events FSC is hosting and participating in key events at COP30 — including the Forest Pavilion, the Indigenous Pavilion, the World Climate Foundation Summit, the Global Landscapes Forum Climate 2025, the pre-COP30 Symposium, and more, showcasing how responsible forest stewardship drives climate action, biodiversity protection, and sustainable development worldwide. 6 November | 14:45-15:45 | KPMG Sao Paulo Financing the Nature-Positive, Climate-Smart, Forest-Based Circular Bioeconomy - An action agenda, pre-COP30 Symposium Panel 4: Verified Impact of Ecosystem Services — Bridging Data, Risk and Finance: This panel explores how verified forest data can drive impact through credible claims, inform financial risk assessments, and strengthen due diligence systems. Experts will discuss the role of third-party verification, emerging data methodologies, and how data-driven approaches can help companies and financial institutions manage forestry-related risks and co-invest with confidence. Moderator: Sharon London, FSC Investments & Partnerships Panellists: Guillermo Olmedo (Arauco); Joshua Wickerham (ISEAL Alliance), Yuuko Iizuka (Sumitomo Forestry). 10 November | 10:00-11:30 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone Opening of the United Nations Forum on Forest Pavilion (UNFF) As co-leads of the UNFF Pavilion, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) will join the opening session, where Sharon London, Partnerships Director, FSC Investment & Partnerships, will offer remarks highlighting FSC’s commitment to sustainable forest management and global collaboration. 10 November | 16:30-18:00 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone Forests and Bioeconomy: Advancing Sustainable Solutions for Climate and Nature Co-creating a Thriving Forest Bioeconomy: This United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) side event brings together FSC Brazil (represented by Elson Fernandes), the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Government of Austria to explore how collaboration and verified data can drive a sustainable and inclusive forest bioeconomy. 11 November | 17:55-18:55 | Indigenous Peoples Pavilion – Blue Zone From Panama to Belém: Strengthening Coordination Across the Rio Conventions Through Indigenous-Led Frameworks Minnie Degawan, Managing Director FSC Indigenous Foundation, will discuss how Indigenous-led frameworks strengthen coordination among the Rio Conventions, highlighting Indigenous leadership in advancing climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable land management. Follow-up Session This session builds on the CBD’s SB8J-01 meeting held in Panama in October 2025, continuing discussions on coordination among the three Rio Conventions—Climate Change, Biodiversity, and Desertification—from Indigenous Peoples’ perspectives. In collaboration with Nia Tero, IWGIA, the UNCCD Indigenous Caucus, IIFB, and IIPFCC, it will focus on turning previous recommendations into concrete, Indigenous-led strategies, identifying joint priorities, and strengthening Indigenous leadership in global environmental governance. 12 November | 10:00-12:00 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone Working Together to Uphold the Role of Indigenous Peoples in Forest Stewardship and Build Effective Direct Funding Mechanisms This session highlights the vital role of Indigenous Peoples as guardians of forests and biodiversity. Experts from the FSC Indigenous Foundation, The Tenure Facility, and the Green Climate Fund will showcase Indigenous leadership in forest stewardship, share successes and challenges, and explore pathways to strengthen direct funding mechanisms and inclusive decision-making for Indigenous-led conservation. Moderator: Maria de Leon, FSC Indigenous Foundation 12 November | 15:00-16:30 | Side Event Room 6 – Blue Zone Enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ direct access to Climate Finance - UNFF & FSC Indigenous Foundation This COP30 side event, organized by the Tenure Facility in partnership with CIPRED, the FSC Indigenous Foundation (FSC-IF), and Tebtebba, explores strategies to strengthen Indigenous Peoples’ direct access to climate finance. The speakers will discuss pathways to increase Indigenous-led access to climate finance, align mechanisms like the GCF with forest and tenure pledges, and move beyond the current 1% of funds reaching Indigenous Peoples. Moderator: Nonette Royo (Tenure Facility) Speakers: Myrna Cunningham Kain (Pawanka Fund), Dr. Pasang Dolma Sherpa (CIPRED), Kimaren Ole Riamit (ILEPA), Helen Magata (ELATIA & Tebtebba), Maria De Leon (FSC-IF), Eleni Kyrou (Green Climate Fund – GCF), Leif John Fosse (Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative – NICFI), Yuli Prasetyo Nugroho (Ministry of Environment & Forestry, Indonesia), Dewi Suralaga (Climate and Land Use Alliance – CLUA), and Terena Peres de Castro (GEF Small Grants Programme – SGP Brazil). 12 November | 17:15-18:45 | Global ABC/United Nations Buildings & Cooling Pavilion – Blue Zone International Green Solutions Awards ceremony The 10th edition of the Green Solutions Awards will celebrate innovative sustainable building, district, and infrastructure projects from 26 countries, highlighting replicable solutions for carbon neutrality and resilience. Elson Fernandes, Executive Director of FSC Brazil, will deliver brief remarks during the ceremony. Participation is open on-site or via livestream — register here. 13 November | 10:30-14:00 | Nature Hub Pavilion – Blue Zone The Nature Hub @COP30 - Business Day Session 2: Nature in Supply Chains - Round table discussion on technical and operational challenges and solutions to integrating nature-related challenges into supply chains: This session will explore how companies can identify, manage, and mitigate nature-related risks and dependencies across their supply chains. Moderator: Jack Hurd, World Economic Forum Panellists: Angela Pinhati (Natura), Sharon London (FSC Investment & Partnerships), Dan Nepstad (Earth Innovation Institute) Session 3: Mobilising finance for nature - This session will feature a discussion about the Financial and Economic Challenges to Scaling Nature into Wider Climate Strategies. Speakers: Bethany Ridley Moran (Manager, ESG, Lloyds), Peter Taylor (Programme Director, IIGCC), Chris Leeds (Head of Carbon Markets Development, Standard Chartered), and Anand Punja (Director of Stakeholder Relations, FSC). 13 November | 11:00-12:00 | Rede Andrade Hangar Hotel - Amazonica room Launch of WildFire Action Accelerator Pledge This high-level event will bring together governments, Indigenous and local community leaders, civil society partners, donors, and multilateral organizations to reaffirm a shared commitment to addressing wildfires as a systemic challenge linked to climate, biodiversity, and sustainable development. Representatives from forest nations, IPLCs, and the FSC Indigenous Foundation will share testimonies on the urgent need for collective action and the unique opportunity that COP30 will provide to accelerate this transformation. 14 November | 11:05-11:35 | Assembléia Paraense, Belém, Brazil World Climate and Biodiversity Summit at COP30 Fireside Chat 4B: Governance Models for Forest Stewardship in Practice: This session will explore how inclusive governance models empower Indigenous Peoples and local communities to lead forest stewardship by integrating rights, knowledge, and priorities into policy and land management. Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), will share how FSC’s governance system demonstrates shared leadership in practice. 14 November | 11:15-12:15 | Standards Pavilion – Blue Zone The Role of International Sustainability Standards and Trade This roundtable will bring together experts from ISO, the United Nations, governments, Indigenous leaders, academia, and the private sector to discuss how international standards can enhance environmental ambition, strengthen trade resilience, and drive real-world impact. The FSC Indigenous Foundation will be represented by Minnie Degawan, Managing Director. 14 November | 14:00-14:25 | AgriZone (Embrapa) FSC-Certified Forest Management as a Pathway to Sustainability in Civil Construction Elson Fernandes (FSC Brazil) will present how FSC certification supports sustainability and innovation in the civil construction sector, promoting responsible sourcing. 14 November | 15:30-16:15 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone Are forests contributing to Nationally Determined Contributions the way you thought they would? Join this COP30 Forest Pavilion session for a discussion on the trade-offs between short-term climate goals and long-term forest resilience in boreal and temperate regions. Speakers include James Lloyd (Nature4Climate, Moderator), Anand Punja (FSC), Kate Lindsay (FPAC), and Jens Sedemund (OECD). The session will be livestreamed online: https://lnkd.in/ehewxmCN 14 November | 15:30-17:00 | Goals House - Belem Meeting of the Waters: The Confluence of Global Policy and Governance 15 November | 10:00-11:00 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone Grand Opening United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) The Grand Opening of the UNFF at the Forest Pavilion will bring together high-level leaders to underscore the vital role of forests and Indigenous Peoples in advancing global climate and biodiversity goals. Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig of Austria’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Minister Sonia Guajajara of Brazil’s Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, and Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), will open the event and set the stage for collaborative action toward sustainable forest stewardship. The Grand Opening will be livestreamed here. 15 November | 16:40-17:40 | Indigenous Peoples Pavilion – Blue Zone From Rights to Partnerships: Working together for Nature - FSC Indigenous Foundation This session will spotlight Indigenous-led partnerships and innovations driving measurable, community-defined impacts for climate, biodiversity, and cultural values. As a follow-up to New York Climate Week, the discussion will highlight how Indigenous leadership is setting new standards for nature-positive and net-zero aligned economies, offering corporations and investors credible pathways for collaboration and impact. Panellists will explore Indigenous-led approaches to governance, finance, and innovation that strengthen partnerships for the benefit of both people and the planet. Moderator: Minnie Degawan (FSC Indigenous Foundation's Managing Director) Panellists: Grace Balawag (Tebtebba) and Fermín Chimatani Tayori (National Association of Executors of the Communal Reserves Administration Contract – ANECAP) 15 November | 11:30-12:35 | Africa Pavilion – Blue Zone Delivering Climate Finance for the Resilience of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities This joint event with will feature Indigenous Peoples and local communities representatives, including Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Global Indigenous Climate Leader and Minnie Degawan, FSC Indigenous Foundation, who will share their perspectives on equitable partnerships, inclusive finance, and recognition of their governance systems. 17 November | 9:00-10:15 | Action on Food Hub (EIT) – Blue Zone Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) Climate 2025: A New Vision for Earth Opening Plenary: How to really fix the climate: The opening plenary will unite global leaders to explore practical climate solutions grounded in Indigenous knowledge, science, and technology. Speakers — including Niels Annen (BMZ, Germany), Éliane Ubalijoro (CIFOR-ICRAF), Dr. Subhra Bhattacharjee (FSC), José Renato (University of Bonn), Kumi Naidoo (Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Africans Rising), and Amy Duchelle (FAO) — will discuss how collaboration can drive adaptation, strengthen Rio Convention synergies, and accelerate climate action. 17 November | 11:30-12:30 | Francophonie Pavilion – Blue Zone Nature-based solutions to preserve the model of sustainable management of tropical forests in Central Africa: the case of Gabon 17 November | 12:30-13:20 | Parque da Cidade - R. Sen. Lemos – Souza From Forests to Global Climate: Certification as a Path to Recognizing Ecosystem Services through PES Mechanisms Featuring Elson Fernandes from FSC Brazil, the panel will highlight how FSC certification recognizes and values the ecosystem services of responsibly managed forests, strengthening sustainable management and Payments for Environmental Services (PES). It will share examples of Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities turning forest management into conservation, income, and social justice. 18 November | 13:15-14:45 | Side Event Room 6 – Blue Zone Promoting Sustainable Smallholder Projects for Net Zero and Beyond This side event will explore how high-integrity partnerships, data, and finance can unlock the full climate potential of forests. Speakers will discuss practical pathways to scale credible forest-based solutions, strengthen smallholder and community participation, and connect responsible forest management with emerging climate and nature-finance mechanisms. Sharon London, FSC Investment & Partnerships, will share insights on how collaboration across sectors—technology, certification, and investment—is driving more transparent, inclusive, and effective forest-climate action. 18 November | 14:00-14:50 | Forest Pavilion – Blue Zone Session 5 - Central African Forests at the Heart of Global Climate Action: Joint Action, Financing and Prospects towards 2025-2030 This high-level expert panel, convened during the UNFF Forest Congo Basin Day, will bring together leading institutions — COMIFAC, the Congo Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP), the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI), and GIZ — to explore the future of the Congo Basin’s forests. 18 November | 16:00-17:15 | WWF Panda Pavilion – Blue Zone Restoration Day – Scaling Restoration as a High-Integrity Nature-Based Solution: From Policy to Finance and Action This flagship COP30 Action Agenda event—organized jointly by WWF, the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, UNEP, and the Global Partnership on Forest and Landscape Restoration (GPFLR)—will spotlight landscape restoration as a high-integrity, scalable, and investable Nature-Based Solution. FSC International will be represented by Anand Punja, who will participate in Session 5, “Scaling Restoration through High-Integrity Carbon Finance,” a high-level dialogue aimed at advancing global collaboration to accelerate landscape restoration at scale. 18 November | 16:15-17:05 | Indigenous Peoples Pavilion – Green Zone Forest Peoples: Climate Guardians and FSC Certification in the Amazon The panel will present experiences of FSC-certified community forest management in the Amazon, highlighting how traditional communities strengthen conservation, climate action, and sustainable income generation. Representatives from Amazonian communities, FSC Brazil, and institutional partners will share lessons learned on sustainable management, market access, and inclusion in bioeconomy value chains — showing how traditional knowledge, combined with certification, contributes to conserving biodiversity and promoting climate justice. 19 November | 14:45-15:45 | Standards Pavillon - Blue Zone Cultivating a Nature Positive Future: Metrics and Momentum in Agriculture & Forestry This session will explore what a nature-positive future looks like for the agriculture and forestry sectors, and how emerging State of Nature Metrics can help track progress toward that vision. Participants will hear from Anand Punja (FSC International) and other experts and company representatives who are piloting these metrics, as well as share practical insights on implementation, challenges, and opportunities. The panel will also provide space for audience engagement and questions, fostering an open dialogue on how to scale meaningful action for nature across value chains. 20 November | 15:20-16:35 | AgriZone Auditorium 3 (Embrapa) Verified Impact: Connecting the Value of Ecosystem Services with Business Strategies In this session, Elson Fernandes (FSC Brazil) will present how FSC’s Verified Impact solution connects the valuation of ecosystem services—such as carbon storage, water regulation, and biodiversity protection—with business strategies, driving sustainability and delivering measurable benefits for nature and people. 20 November | 15:20-16:35 | Side Event Room 7 – Blue Zone Community-Led Forest Economies: Shifting Policy and Finance for People, Nature, and Climate Organized by the UNFCCC and the World Resources Institute (WRI), this high-level session will highlight the shift from extractive models to community empowerment, connecting evidence, lived experience, and policy. Indigenous and women leaders, scientists, and policy partners from the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia — including representatives from the FSC Indigenous Foundation — will identify next steps beyond COP30 to align policy, finance, and culture in scaling equitable, nature-based forest solutions for 2026 and beyond. If you are interested in our speakers for other events, please get in touch with Sharon London at s.london@fsc.org. Learn about our solutions The interconnected crises of climate change and biodiversity loss demand urgent, coordinated action – or what Brazil calls ‘mutirão’. FSC provides a trusted platform for coordination, bringing together governments, businesses, Indigenous Peoples, civil society, and academia to co-create and implement solutions that address the scale and complexity of today’s global challenges. FSC Forest Management Certification FSC-certified forests are managed sustainably, which enhances their ability to capture and store carbon, not only in the trees, but also in the soil and other biomass. Learn about FSC’s Forest Management Certification solution. FSC Verified Impact This pioneering solution empowers forest stewards to communicate how they are making a measurable difference in the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss. Learn about FSC’s innovative tool that allows companies to measure and report on their positive impact on carbon storage. FSC / Célio Cavalcante Filho In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, the Agroextractivist Association of Communities of the Uatumã Sustainable Development Reserve is caring for the ecosystem for the benefit of future generations. Learn more → FSC / Samora Chapman In Namibia, an innovative nature-based solution is taking shape: transforming overgrown, encroaching bush into clean, locally generated electricity. Find out how → FSC / Célio Cavalcante Filho Research shows that FSC can play a decisive role in combatting deforestation in the Amazon. Read the evidence → Media requests Our delegation speakers are available for exclusive interviews. To request an interview with any of the following speakers, please contact media@fsc.org. Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director General, FSC Anand Punja, Director of Stakeholder Relations, FSC Sharon London, Partnerships Director, FSC I&P Elson Fernandes, Executive Director, FSC Brazil Minnie Degawan, Managing Director, FSC Indigenous Foundation Listen to the forest guardians In Borneo and Central Java, Indonesia, Indigenous and local forest managers are improving community well-being and the health of forest ecosystems, increasing resilience. Read their words below. FSC / Jonathan Perugia Arbidasi, Healer of Tumbang Habangoi Village: The forest is really important for us. It gives the community a place to grow rice, helps people make a living, and gives us what we need to build houses and make tools. Basically, everything comes from the forest. FSC / Jonathan Perugia Okta Simon, Programme Manager of Sebangau Katingan Landscape, WWF Indonesia: Our main goal is to protect the forest between Sebangau National Park and Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park. Most importantly, we want to improve both our community’s well-being and the health of the forest ecosystem. By supporting P2RK Rattan Farmers Group and FSC certification, sustainable forest management by local farmers can help prevent deforestation and safeguard forests and rattan stands. FSC / Jonathan Perugia Sitiwati, villager and member of P2RK Rattan Farmers' Group: My parents always told me, wherever you study, wherever you go, you will come back to your parents’ work. And that is taking care of the forest. We are the ones who look after it. Let’s not lose our forest. Let’s take good care of it. FSC / Jonathan Perugia Yusminah Farmer Member of Giri Mulyo Group Member of Kostajasa: Kostajasa is a cooperative engaged in community forestry. Forest management here is a collective effort, what we call “gotong royong”, or locally, “liuran." FSC / Jonathan Perugia Untung Karnanto, Manager, Kostajasa: Kostajasa, with its FSC-certified forest management, meets requirements such as High Conservation Value (HCV). By implementing High Conservation Value principles, we help protect not just one village but a wider landscape. In this way, we also support our colleagues working in mangrove and karst areas. FSC / Jonathan Perugia Lantip Titis Pranandito Marketing & Communications Kostajasa: When the rights of the community are fulfilled, people are much more willing to think about conservation. Talking about conservation without addressing people’s needs is meaningless.