Rio Nature & Climate Week Opens in Rio With Push to Unite Climate, Biodiversity and Desertification Action

Overview

• The conference, which began Tuesday, June 2, has drawn scientists, government ministers, indigenous leaders, NGOs and private‑sector representatives to multi‑day talks and citywide events in Rio de Janeiro.
• Speakers urged the three separate international agreements on climate, biodiversity and desertification to act as one, with UNCCD COP15 president Alain‑Richard Donwahi calling for ‘‘three teams, one convention’’ to reduce duplication and improve implementation.
• COP30 executive director Ana Toni and others highlighted a concrete restoration goal of recovering 250 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 as central to meeting climate and biodiversity targets.
• The week pairs technical negotiations on lands, forests, water, governance and finance with public programming across the city and ticketed Global Citizen concerts in Botafogo to broaden engagement beyond policy circles.
• Organizers frame the event as a push for Global South leadership and practical action by connecting the 1992 Rio conventions to finance, local adaptation and indigenous stewardship so commitments reach communities and landscapes most affected by degradation.