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  "path": "/english/climate-emergency/noticia/2026/06/13/rio-will-become-the-global-stage-for-discussions-on-nature-and-climate-says-rncw-founder.ghtml",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-13T19:29:09.000Z",
  "site": "https://oglobo.globo.com",
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  "textContent": "\nAfter gathering over six thousand participants during six days of debates, meetings, and cultural activities, the inaugural edition of the Rio Nature & Climate Week (RNCW) concluded its program with the goal of transforming Rio de Janeiro into a permanent platform for discussions on climate, nature, and development. In an interview with O GLOBO, Rodrigo Medeiros, general director of the Instituto Natureza e Clima Brasil and the event's creator, explained how the conference aimed to integrate climate and biodiversity agendas in an unprecedented way, while emphasizing the importance of bringing the voices of the Global South to the forefront of the dialogue. What is your main takeaway from the first edition of Rio Nature & Climate Week? What did it reveal about the current state of the global climate and nature agenda? The general sentiment is that we needed to bring this discussion about the challenges of nature and climate to a Global South territory, and Rio de Janeiro represents that space. First, because most of these meetings happen in the Northern Hemisphere, and opportunities for people from more peripheral countries to attend are always more limited. The second point was the novelty of bringing the debates on nature and climate to the same table. In the past two decades, much of the discussion has centered on climate issues, as if the role of nature and biodiversity were secondary. However, it is actually essential. So, we had the opportunity to bring together negotiators and representatives from international conventions, who usually work separately, to discuss the challenges of integration. It was also very positive to bring together the private sector and civil society. Why is this moment particularly relevant for gathering different stakeholders around these topics? Brazil has always exercised leadership in this area, and we are resuming this role by hosting events like the G20 presidency, BRICS, and COP30. It was natural that, with this resurgence, we should not rely solely on occasional events. We understand that Brazil, due to its strength and international influence, needed a space that allows the country to continue exerting its influence while amplifying the voices of other countries in the Global South. The RNCW was born with this proposal. This was the first year, but it is here to stay. It will be a permanent platform, held annually, always in the first week of June. Rio will be the global stage for these discussions. What distinguishes this initiative from other sustainability debate spaces? There are several ‘Climate Weeks’ around the world, but there is no Nature & Climate Week. This integration is unprecedented. Most other events are still very focused on climate issues and, in some way, neglect the role of nature, tropical forests, and oceans, which are fundamental to solving the climate crisis. By proposing the RNCW, we aim to bring nature back to the center of this debate. The second difference is precisely the perspective of the Global South. The conference was conceived with the aim of bringing together leaders from countries that still contain the largest areas of tropical forests, which will be most affected by biodiversity loss and global warming, but hold a fundamental part of the solutions. These countries tend to have low representation in international forums, mainly due to financial barriers. The idea is to ensure that the demands of these countries are heard. How can these topics be explained and how can the public be brought closer to this discussion? People need to understand that these major processes have direct effects on their lives. In our conference, we incorporated culture as a central element of dialogue. One example was the first International Film Showcase of the RNCW, in addition to Global Citizen Live. A free concert, open to the public, featuring performances by artists like Ludmilla and Lauryn Hill. Throughout the event, we promoted a journey of awareness and dissemination of information with accessible language. We believe that this simplified journey serves as an entry point for more people to participate in this conversation. Rio de Janeiro has already hosted major international events on climate and environment. What makes the city a suitable location for hosting an initiative like this? Rio has all the conditions to be a global capital for major events, especially in this area. Here, urbanity and nature come together. And precisely because of this, it is a city that encompasses both challenges and solutions. It is a global city, easily accessible and internationally recognized. But there is also a historical reason. Rio de Janeiro is the birthplace of the Rio Conventions—the conventions on climate, biodiversity, and desertification. It was here that this agenda gained global prominence. It was here that terms like sustainable development, climate change, and biodiversity became part of the international political vocabulary and public debate. Before Rio-92, these topics existed in academia and science but were not part of people's daily lives. Rio helped shape the perception that we live on an interconnected planet and that the development models adopted over the last century and a half have generated impacts that now require urgent responses. What do you hope participants take away from the meetings and discussions this week? I hope they take with them the messages shared throughout the week. We had representatives and panelists from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, each bringing the perspectives, challenges, and opportunities of their territories. This exchange allows people to connect with different realities and broaden their understanding of the global dimension of these issues. They also leave with the certainty that Rio de Janeiro has become a major international megaphone for these communities and their demands. A space capable of amplifying voices that often have little presence in major global forums. And I believe everyone also takes with them a very striking image: the concert held in the Enseada de Botafogo. Seeing so many people gathered in Rio de Janeiro to advocate that the Global South should not be forgotten is a powerful message.",
  "title": "'Rio will become the global stage for discussions on nature and climate,' says RNCW founder"
}