Climate Education
Belém COP30 Diary, Day 5
November 16, 2025
Bryce Coon, Director, Education Initiatives, EARTHDAY.ORG
Hi, my name is Bryce Coon. I am a former Humanities teacher and for the last couple of years, the Director of Education at EARTHDAY.ORG. I’m in Belém, Brazil for COP30. Here’s why – we are championing a simple truth: the green economy starts with climate education.
Just last week the European Union (EU)joined 60 other countries around the world that all agree with us – schools and teachers are where we will meet the climate crisis head on and empower the global work force with the green skills needed to mitigate it and power the global economy.
DAY 5 at COP30
DATE: 15th SATURDAY NOVEMBER
MOOD: Energized but sadly my final day here
WEATHER: You guessed it – yet more heat!
It took longer than usual to get to the venue as there was another Indigenous protest at the start of the day. As I arrived, I noticed more barricades were erected, and a long line of police officers stood guard, channeling the flow of delegates through just one small entrance before the path led to yet another checkpoint. As I wrote yesterday, security seems to heighten with each day.
The Indigenous community are here making their voices heard at COP30, as they fight to protect their lands and the forests they are stewards of. Our own new series, UNDERREPORTED EARTH – “TREE TALES”– IG trail – sees Tracy McVeigh from The Guardian speaks with three top investigative journalists about their groundbreaking reporting around forests: Elisangela Mendonça uncovers how the Amazon rainforest is being threatened by the collagen industry. Josephine Moulds takes us into the Congo Basin, where fossil fuel auctions are endangering one of the world’s most vital rainforest ecosystems. Ana Bottallo travels deep into the Amazonian mangroves to witness how local communities fought to have their voices heard.
The episodes go live November 17/18th/19th across EARTHDAY.ORG social media on Facebook: Ep.1, Ep.2, Ep.3 and YouTube: Ep.1, Ep.2, Ep.3. Well worth a listen and helps to reveal some of what the Indigenous communities are fighting for.
EARTHDAY.ORG and the Pulitzer Center worked with Tracy Mcveigh at The Guardian to create a truly inspiring series that showcases why investigative journalism matters. All three stories are tree centric and Indigenous communities are integral to each.
With only one scheduled event, our official Blue Zone panel in the afternoon, the morning allowed us crucial time. We met as a team to consolidate our strategy for the panel and then spent time visiting key pavilions. The networking was focused, shifting from making connections to specific follow-up actions and partnerships that will extend our work well beyond Belém.
Our session had the last time slot on the Saturday before the rest day, and I was genuinely concerned about attendance fatigue. But, fortunately, we had a very good showing: a full house with a highly attentive audience and two truly outstanding panels. We split the time with our co-lead SOS-UK, and between our panels, we had representatives from the youth, corporations, government, and philanthropy. We weren’t sure if she could make it, but we were graced by the presence and brief remarks from Marcele Oliveira, COP 30’s youth champion. It was a perfect culmination of our time here.
The panel successfully touched upon two critical and interconnected topics that have rightly been receiving a lot of attention at COP 30. The first focused on the renewal of the Climate Change Gender Action Plan (GAP) and the vital conversation around green skills. We emphasized ensuring that the growth of the green economy is deeply and explicitly connected to gender equality.
The reason EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO) believes all countries must commit to disciplinary climate education is simple: to ensure that countries in the Global South, and particularly women, have foundational access to green skills. This access is essential not only to increase gender equality but to build true long-term resiliency in communities most vulnerable to climate change.
The second area of focus, climate disinformation, also proved highly relevant, especially given the “COP of Truth” theme emphasized by the Brazilian Presidency. As we are seeing an increasing and alarming spread of climate disinformation and denialism across the internet, our panel framed education as the necessary tool to combat this. It’s not just about teaching climate science; it’s about fostering critical thinking and media literacy to protect the very foundation of effective climate action. Having these crucial conversations on the main stage before the final, high-level negotiations begin felt like a necessary final push.
After the panel, I went to dinner with a group of climate lawyers. Again, learning more about the interdisciplinary nature of this work. I went to bed, woke up, and now I am at the Belem Airport.
I am exhausted but inspired and looking forward to all the COP follow-up to come! Ropo and Max are here for a few days longer working the floors, attending meetings and panels, learning, teaching and making connections, for me though it is time to head home to Washington DC.
However, like all COP participants, this is not the end; it is the start of another year of work towards activating ways to manage and mitigate the climate crisis. We have the power to make a difference – the Earth Day theme really has struck me as so true – it really is, Our Power, Our Planet.
DAY 4 at COP30
DATE: 14th FRIDAY NOVEMBER
MOOD: Looking forward to the big EDO panel
WEATHER: More heat!
Today I arrived at the venue and immediately noticed the increased security: more barricades, a larger military presence, and new procedures for entering the zones. Since the indigenous protest earlier this week, the security and protocols have changed each day. In corridors and pavilions I heard many voices reflecting on the role of this COP30.
Some believe the summit is failing to include the indigenous voice adequately, while others point to events featuring indigenous leaders, artists, and families across both the Blue Zone and Green Zone. It’s a complex issue, and while I’ve seen indigenous presence, I’m left wondering; is it enough? It’s hard to fully process in real time, but it is something for everyone to reflect on for future COPs.
My first meeting today was with Google’s Director for Sustainability, Antonia Gawel. I shared our education work at EARTHDAY.ORG, which includes our intensive efforts to embed climate education into NDCs and supporting interdisciplinary implementation. I am looking forward to following this all up at the COP.
As I left this meeting I ran into Rodolfo (Ropo) and was able to join the meeting he scheduled with Tatiana Rosito, secretary of international affairs at the ministry of finance for Brazil. We shared the case for climate education with her and discussed it. It’s important and strategies from her perspective as a policy expert and economist. This meeting, along with many others Rodolfo scheduled, highlighted the importance and value of having a local to the host country under your delegation. It is clear that in Rodolfo’s 50 years in the environmental movement that he is a well known leader in Brazil and a great asset to the EARTHDAY.ORG team.
Later I spent more time in the Blue Zone engaging with current and prospective partners, before shifting to the Green Zone. As others have noted, the Green Zone is pulsing with energy: art, music and performances led by indigenous people bring a different perspective to the day’s work. Finally, I was invited to a reception hosted by the Italian delegation where I spoke with climate foundations and entrepreneurs about a number of potential climate solutions.
On the long ride back to my apartment I am reflecting on the US involvement, or lack thereof. The absence of a US allegation has me thinking of the importance of the domestic work we are doing to bring climate education to students. The United States is a federalized system, and for this reason education could not be included in the NDC even if it was supported by the US representatives. Seeing Gavin Newsom, and listening to his speech on the importance of leaning in, “The United States of America is as dumb as we want to be on this topic, but the state of California is not. And so we are going to assert ourselves, we’re going to lean in, and we are going to compete in this space.”
As my time at COP30 is about to come to an end, this is a good reminder for the work. We are doing to support climate, education and states like Maryland and New York.
Tomorrow is my last day at COP and we have our official Blue Zone side event with leaders from business, youth, the COP presidency, education with representation from Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, and South America.
DAY 3 at COP30
DATE: 13th THURSDAY NOVEMBER
MOOD: Tired but exhilarated
WEATHER: Hot and humid!
Today at COP30 underscored a shift in the global climate landscape: climate education has moved from the margins to the center of the conversations.
My day revealed a consistent theme, the goal to move from policy commitments to execution. The morning began with printing and delivering press releases to journalists on the milestone achievement of more than 150 countries incorporating climate education into their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This campaign was led by EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO) since 2017 and generously supported by Sam Rose. Even stepping briefly outside the venue into the daily life of Belém served as a reminder that global pledges depend entirely on local, tangible, human actions.
This was followed by a meeting arranged by Rodolfo Beltran, EARTHDAYORG’s Latin America Director, with Olivia Montez of the Instituto Clima e Sociedade (iCS). The conversation was energizing. iCS’s strategic approach to climate governance, social justice, and local capacity building aligns closely with the growing consensus here at COP30, climate education must be embedded not just in classrooms, but throughout communities and businesses.
A takeaway from today was the increasingly urgent demand for green skills across every sector of the global economy. This was emphasized during the panel that included Max Falcone, EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO) special envoy on climate education, and LinkedIn co-founder Allen Blue, who presented new data from LinkedIn’s Global Green Skills Report 2025. According to the report, growth in green hiring is almost two times faster than growth in the share of workers with green skills (7.7% vs 4.3%). Furthermore, green talent is far more likely to secure a job, getting hired at a global rate 46.6% above the economy wide hiring rate.
Blue underscored a striking reality: businesses are increasingly retraining existing workers rather than waiting for new graduates to arrive with the necessary competencies. The message is unmistakable – climate education must become interdisciplinary and prepare future professionals in every field.
This theme carried directly into discussions with regional climate organizations, all of which underscored the need to embed climate education into existing institutions.
The high level ministerial meeting of the Greening Education Partnership (GEP) offered one of the clearest indicators of how far the conversation has progressed. Moderated by Christopher Castle of UNESCO, the session brought together ministers, the COP30 Presidency, and leading multilateral partners.
The meeting also marked the release of UNESCO’s new report, Greening Communities: Guidance for Lifelong Learning for Climate and Sustainability Action, published on Education Day (November, 12th) this year. The report highlights that 70% of young people say they are not climate ready based on their schooling and 47% of national curriculum frameworks across 100 countries make no reference to climate change at all. It reinforces a key message from COP30 which is that youth everywhere are demanding to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to respond to environmental threats and there is a gap that needs to be filled.
At the panel I ran into, Liesbet Steer, Executive Director of Systemiq, and asked her to share her thoughts on climate education. She reinforced the stakes of our work, “Climate and education are deeply interconnected, and we must ensure that education systems deliver for climate action.” As she noted, despite the growing recognition of green skills as essential to the new economy, “less than 1% of climate finance goes to education and training, and that has to change.” The discussion made clear that filling this financing gap will determine whether countries can meaningfully implement their NDCs and build a climate ready workforce.
Seeing education elevated to such prominence was deeply significant. It reflects the persistent multiyear advocacy of organizations like EARTHDAY.ORG, which has been working to establish education as a central tool for preparing societies, especially in the Global South, for the transition to a green economy.
The day concluded at the Higher Education Pavilion with a panel highlighting the expansion of climate education into disciplines long considered unrelated to climate action. Discussions on university sports programs featuring Columbia University students and Italian faculty showed how research, stadium scorecards, and operations planning are being used to reduce emissions at sporting events. These examples demonstrate that every sector now requires a climate lens.
Finally, a strategic conversation on financing closed the evening. With more than 150 countries formally committed to climate education in their NDCs, the central challenge is no longer political will; it is funding. Multilateral institutions such as the Global Environment Facility and the World Bank will be pivotal in supporting teacher training, curriculum development, and national implementation plans.
The shift from commitments to execution is now the defining feature of COP30.
DAY 2 at COP30
DATE: 12th WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER
MOOD: Inspired
WEATHER: Still feels like a sauna
Walking into the venue it was clear security had changed from the first day following the ingenuous people’s protest that breached the security the first night. The military and police were very present but it was still quickly getting in.
Rodolfo, our Regional Director, South America, and my first meeting was with Emma Shockley, Climate Cardinals Chief Programs Officer. It was fantastic diving into their programs. I was particularly excited to hear about their training initiatives— they’re providing people with green transferable skills. It was one of those moments that really hits home: seeing organizations actively working to build the human capacity needed for the green economy is encouraging. We can’t solve this crisis without the people trained to do the work.
At the end of this meeting Djian Sadadou, the International Relations and Communications Manager, happened to walk by. We got into a quick, but important, chat about the future of climate education and the commitments made in the updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Those chance encounters are exactly why COPs are so vital—they bring together the right people at the right moment to facilitate a massive, shared goal like universal climate education.
After that, I needed to write out some notes and emails. Finding a decent spot was a little funny—I found an open seat in the computer center, but it was open for a reason: it was directly in the sun. It was funny watching everyone shuffle around the seats to avoid that one patch of direct sunlight, given the heat. Eventually, I found a shady spot and got my work done.
The next event took me near the water, and for the first time, I got a glimpse of the Amazon River. It was genuinely beautiful. Seeing those massive ships docked, including the Sea Shepherd vessel (the one that works to actively stop illegal activity in the oceans), really crystallized something for me: COPs are this fascinating mix of high-level government negotiators, passionate youth leaders, grassroots activists, and NGOs. Everyone is here, each playing a critical role.
I headed to my event that was part of a full-day program sponsored by the Alana Institute focused on nature and climate education. This is only my third COP, but chatting with colleagues revealed how significant this focus is. Education was barely a whisper in past COPs. Earthday.Org had the first-ever education pavilion in Egypt, and now, we’ve seen education and green skills pavilions in Dubai and Baku and youth and children and youth here in Belem. It’s clear that the persistent work we’ve done to elevate education to a central focus has been incredibly effective.
I listened to one panel (thank goodness for excellent translation services for the Portuguese speakers!) and then joined the stage for my own session. The topic was how global commitments can support local communities, and I got to share the news about the major jump in countries including education in their NDCs—going from about 40 to over 150!
My panel was moderated by Christopher Castle, a director in the education sector at UNESCO, someone whose name I’ve heard many times but never met. The biggest takeaway is that education is a vital tool and we must ensure that the commitments made in those global documents reach the teachers and students on the ground. Securing the financing and tools to build teacher capacity is critical.
After the panel, my colleague Rop0 (Rodolfo) and I stayed for a reception, meeting education leaders from Brazil and other countries. We were then invited to a reception by EARTHDAY.ORG’s special envoy to climate education, Max Falcone, hosted by Italy.
Aside from the delicious food, the highlight was an art installation. It was a massive platform with seating, but in the center, there was a pool of water taken from the river. The water level was set to show the projected water height 100 years from now. It was strikingly visual, the moving water demanded your attention. It was a perfect example of what we always say at EARTHDAY.ORG: we need truly interdisciplinary climate education. Every subject, including art and design, plays a critical role in shaping our understanding and motivating action against the climate crisis.
Despite the small plates at the reception, I was ready for a proper dinner. I stopped by a beautiful, 18th-century church, the Catedral Metropolitana de Belém Nossa Senhora da Graça, which was a moment of quiet reflection before grabbing a quick meal and heading home. No repeating last night’s Uber issue!
One final observation from the day: it’s interesting to see who is filling the space often dominated by the United States at past COPs. While there are fewer U.S. businesses here, the commitments of groups like America Is All In, led by figures like Governor Gavin Newsom, and the public presence of other major U.S. corporations, clearly show who remains dedicated and who is holding the line on climate action during these challenging times.
DAY 1 at COP30
DATE: 11th TUESDAY NOVEMBER
MOOD: Running on excitement and purpose!
WEATHER: Hot and Humid
DAY 1 at COP30
DATE: 11th TUESDAY NOVEMBER
MOOD: Running on excitement and purpose!
WEATHER: Hot and Humid
A whirlwind first day in Belém for COP30! The journey started at Dulles, and thankfully, the TSA lines were totally smooth despite the shutdown. It was a long travel day with a quick layover in Bogota and then an overnight flight, but I landed as the sun was rising around 5:30 am. I found a taxi and made it to the apartment by 6:30 am. Given my no-sleep-on-planes condition, I decided to get a few hours of sleep before heading to the venue.
After waking up, I ironed everything out on the kitchen table. Heading to the venue, I decided to ditch the suit jacket and I am glad I did! The organizers actually made an official announcement that it’s more casual due to the intense heat and humidity here. It is hot and sweaty, with sudden downpours keeping things interesting.
Security was quick, and checking in for my badge was a breeze and then I went to find the lay of the land, get water, track down some food, and locate the air conditioning! It wasn’t long before I started running into familiar faces. It’s one of the best parts of COP—catching up with friends from across the globe you only see once a year.
Just as I left the venue, I got a text about Governor Newsom showing up at a pavilion. I raced back through security to catch it…which really got me sweating! My girlfriend gave me a portable fan before I left and it has been an absolute lifesaver and great for making friends! Gov. Newsom and his entourage arrived a little late, spoke quickly about the crucial need for U.S. climate leadership, and were whisked away.
After that, it was off to a gorgeous historic mansion in Belém for a reception hosted by the UN Cool Coalition. It was the perfect setting to network and discuss green energy and green jobs. To end the night, I joined some friends and my colleague Rodolfo for an Amazonian meal. The food was fantastic, but the restaurant was completely packed due to COP, so dinner was slow. Trying to leave at 11 pm turned into an Uber nightmare…no availability! After trying for ages, the restaurant eventually called me a taxi, and I finally made it home a little after midnight.
Thank goodness I ironed everything earlier, letting me just crash and grab extra sleep for an early day tomorrow!