Wetlands were the focus last week at COP30 in Belém, as First Lady Janja Lula da Silva accepted an urgent global appeal to protect and restore wetlands as a central pillar of climate action. The letter was presented to her by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) at a concert organised by SOS Pantanal featuring renowned musician Ney Matogrosso.

The letter, endorsed by scientists, Indigenous organisations and civil society leaders from Brazil and around the world, warns that the goals of the Paris Agreement cannot be met without safeguarding wetlands. These vital ecosystems store more carbon per square metre than forests, regulate rainfall, reduce flooding and drought risk, and support biodiversity and livelihoods. However, they receive only a fraction of global climate finance and remain absent from most national climate plans.

EJF’s Chief Representative and Lead Advocate for Brazil, Luciana Leite, highlighted the Pantanal as a symbol of both extraordinary natural wealth and urgent vulnerability: “The Pantanal protects wildlife found nowhere else, sustains traditional and Indigenous livelihoods, and helps stabilise the climate for us all. Despite this, it is under unbearable pressure. Protecting wetlands is a triple win for climate, people and wildlife. They must no longer be ignored.”

Leonardo Gomes, Executive Director of SOS Pantanal, said: "We know what is at stake because we see it with our own eyes. Each fire, each lost habitat, reminds us of how close we are to losing the Pantanal, but it also strengthens our resolve. This extraordinary wetland can thrive again. With real protection and global commitment, the Pantanal can remain a source of life, culture, and climate security for generations to come. We owe it to the people and wildlife calling it home, and to everyone on our planet."

Wetlands are disappearing three times faster than forests. When they are damaged or drained, they release enormous quantities of greenhouse gases. In 2020, nearly one-third of the Pantanal burned, releasing emissions matching Belgium’s for the entire year. Globally, degraded peatlands alone cause around 4% of human-made emissions each year. The call delivered today urges governments to reverse this trend before it is too late.

At COP30 and beyond, EJF is urging world leaders to:

• Include wetland protection and restoration in national climate plans and long-term strategies

• Increase financing for wetland conservation in the Global South, prioritising high-value biomes such as the Pantanal

• Support Indigenous and local community leadership and land rights to ensure lasting protection and stewardship

• Establish clear global targets for wetland protection aligned with the Paris Agreement and biodiversity goals

Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation, said: “If the world is serious about keeping global heating below 1.5°C, wetlands must move from the margins to the centre of climate action. Protecting them is one of the fastest, most effective and most affordable climate solutions we have. COP30 offers the chance to put this right, now and for good.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

Photo: EJF’s Chief Representative and Lead Advocate for Brazil, Luciana Leite; Ney Matogrosso; First Lady of Brazil Janja Lula da Silva; Leonardo Gomes, Executive Director of SOS Pantanal; Gustavo Figueroa, Director of Communications of SOS Pantanal.

Photo credit: Claudio Kbene

About EJF

Our work to secure environmental justice aims to protect our global climate, ocean, forests, wetlands, wildlife and defend the fundamental human right to a secure natural environment, recognising that all other rights are contingent on this. EJF works internationally to inform policy and drive systemic, durable reforms to protect our environment and defend human rights. We investigate and expose abuses and support environmental defenders, Indigenous peoples, communities, and independent journalists on the frontlines of environmental injustice. Our campaigns aim to secure peaceful, equitable and sustainable futures. Our investigators, researchers, filmmakers, and campaigners work with grassroots partners and environmental defenders across the globe. For more information or to organise an interview with one of our team, please contact media@ejfoundation.org.

About SOS Pantanal

The SOS Pantanal Institute is an environmental organization founded in 2009, dedicated to conserving the Pantanal by enhancing public policies, generating and sharing scientific knowledge, and developing sustainable use projects for the biome. We drive necessary transformations through science and dialogue with various sectors of civil society and public authorities.