Berlin to Belém: What’s at Stake for Global Climate Action

At a pivotal moment for international climate policy, the recent Politico event “Berlin to Belém: What’s at Stake for Global Climate Action” gathered political leaders, experts, and industry voices to discuss how Europe and the Global South can align on urgent climate priorities.

Global targets, local realities

Much like corporate players who are embedding sustainability into their business strategies, governments are being asked to match ambitious targets with credible delivery. The event spotlighted the dual challenge: while industrialized nations must accelerate their own emissions reductions, they must also provide pathways for developing economies to grow sustainably.

The debates made clear that climate action is no longer about distant pledges, but about building structures for accountability. Just as Bayer’s Sustainability Council pushes the company to stay on track with its 2030 goals, global forums like Berlin to Belém are designed to ensure governments and institutions remain under scrutiny as they move from promises to implementation.

The stakes in Belém

The location is symbolic: Belém, a gateway to the Amazon, underscores the urgency of protecting biodiversity hotspots and safeguarding climate-critical ecosystems. For Europe, the event emphasized how trade, regulation, and technology transfer can foster cooperation rather than deepen divides. For countries in the Global South, the core demand remains fairness: financing, technology, and policies that reflect both their vulnerabilities and development needs.

Challenges ahead

The discussion also highlighted the barriers that persist. Financing climate adaptation, securing political consensus, and addressing accusations of “greenwashing” are as relevant to global policy as they are to corporate initiatives. In both arenas, credibility hinges on measurable action and transparent reporting.

Why this matters now

As the world prepares for COP30 in Belém, events like this shape the narrative: that ambitious goals are necessary, but only credible pathways, inclusive decision-making, and binding accountability mechanisms will drive real impact.

For Consessor, the message resonates: sustainable transformation—whether in corporate boardrooms or international policy circles—requires the same ingredients: ambition, innovation, and above all, accountability.

The full recording of the event is now available via POLITICO Europe:

We thank POLITICO Europe for the invitation and organization of this important discussion.