The ICCF Group had the chance to sit down with Brazil’s newest conservation star, Congresswoman Socorro Neri, who recently joined Senator Nelsinho Trad in co-chairing the conservation caucus in Brazil.
Congresswoman Socorro Neri, please tell us about your role as President of the Joint Committee on Climate Change in the Brazilian Congress.
Chairing the Joint Committee on Climate Change is a strategic and challenging opportunity, especially at such a crucial moment for Brazil and the world. We have the responsibility to lead the debate and articulate policies that address the climate crisis in an efficient and fair manner, connecting environmental protection to economic and social development.
With Brazil preparing to host COP30 in Belém in 2025, the importance of the commission is even greater. This event will be a historic opportunity for the country to show the world the leading role of the Amazon and our ability to lead global solutions to the climate crisis. My role as chairman of the commission is to ensure that Congress rises to the occasion, promoting dialogue with the Executive and mobilizing society to align Brazil’s goals with the Paris Agreement and ambitious mitigation and adaptation commitments.
Furthermore, it is a space where we can work to ensure that the climate transition is inclusive and fair, especially benefiting the most vulnerable populations, such as women, young people, black people, and indigenous peoples. I have worked to prioritize key issues, such as the bioeconomy, food security, and the sustainable use of the Amazon’s natural resources, to show the world that it is possible to grow sustainably.
The presidency of CMMC is not just a political role, but an opportunity to contribute to Brazil exercising its climate leadership responsibly, with concrete actions and a legacy that inspires other countries and meets the needs of future generations.
What legislative measures do you advocate for the development of the Amazon?
The legislative measures I defend are based on an integrated vision, which considers environmental protection, social justice, and the promotion of sustainable economic development. Through my role as president of the Joint Parliamentary Front for a Just Climate Transition, the Permanent Joint Committee on Climate Change, the Committee on the Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Committee on the Amazon and Indigenous and Traditional Peoples, I seek to strengthen and propose coordinated public policies that promote the bioeconomy, the appreciation of the local population, and the sustainable use of natural resources.
In the legislative field, projects such as PL 3961/2020, which proposes a state of climate emergency and targets for neutralizing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, and PL 5855/2023, which allocates funds raised to environmental compensation programs in the Legal Amazon, stand out. In addition, PL 1660/2024, which establishes the Amazon Factor as a weighting factor for public policies, is key to reducing regional inequalities and promoting sustainable socioeconomic development in the region.
My work on the permanent and temporary committees of the Chamber also reflects this commitment. As a full member of the Environment and Sustainable Development Committee, I promoted public hearings on emission reduction technologies, carbon markets, and measures to prevent natural disasters. In the Education Committee, I promoted debates on climate education, focusing on training indigenous and black youth to become agents of the sustainable transition in the Amazon.
On parliamentary fronts, I coordinated initiatives that connect environmental conservation with social justice. In the Mixed Parliamentary Front in Defense of the Amazon, we seek strategies to preserve the forest, combat deforestation, and strengthen indigenous peoples. In the Parliamentary Front of the Northern States, where I act as coordinator for Acre, we seek to obtain resources and policies aimed at developing the bioeconomy and infrastructure in the region. In addition, I am a member of the Amazon Parliament (PARLAMAZ), as vice president for Brazil, where we discuss joint solutions with other Amazonian countries to protect the forest and improve the quality of life of local populations.
In short, I believe that the development of the Amazon depends on investments in bioeconomy and low-carbon technologies, appreciation of local culture and knowledge, and strengthening of sustainable infrastructure. My work on several committees, fronts, and international initiatives reflects the commitment to align environmental protection with the demands of the Amazonian populations, ensuring that the Amazon is a model of sustainable development and climate justice.
What goals would you like to see achieved at COP30 in Belém in November?
I hope we move forward with real and concrete commitments, especially with regard to financing climate action. It is essential that nations fulfill their responsibilities by ensuring financial and technical resources for the conservation of the Amazon. Without these investments, it will not be possible to implement policies that protect the forest and promote a sustainable bioeconomy.
It is also essential that the conference be a milestone for global engagement around climate justice, placing indigenous peoples and traditional communities, who are the true guardians of the Amazon, at the center of decisions. These groups need to be valued and protected, ensuring that their rights are respected and that they have a leading role in solutions.
Another central theme is the promotion of an inclusive and sustainable bioeconomy, capable of generating employment and income for local peoples, while conserving natural resources. The Amazon has the potential to be an example for the world in this development model, and COP30 needs to create the conditions for this to happen.
I believe that climate education must gain momentum as a global priority. We need to educate a generation of young people, especially in the Amazon, who understand the climate challenges and are prepared to lead the solutions. COP30 will be a unique opportunity to show the world that the Amazon is not just a territory to be protected, but a region full of potential that can lead the way to a more just and sustainable future.
Regional Headquarters