This post summarizes a new declaration and open letter issued by a coalition of Latin American Waterkeeper groups — backed by the Waterkeeper Alliance — presented to world leaders at COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
It explains who led the initiative, which countries participated, the scientific and policy rationale behind the call, and what the coalition is asking governments to do by 2030 to protect water, biodiversity, and climate-resilient livelihoods across Latin America.
A united call at COP30 in the Amazon
The statement was delivered during the UN climate conference held in the heart of the Amazon from November 10–21, 2025, a symbolic setting that underscored the interconnectedness of water, climate, and biodiversity.
The initiative was led by Bocas de Ceniza Waterkeeper and involved numerous Colombian Waterkeepers together with counterparts from across Latin America.
The coalition formalized its demands by signing their documents at the 2026 Latin America Regional Summit in Oaxaca, Mexico.
They then issued an open letter to global leaders at COP30.
Who joined and what they demanded
The coalition spanned a broad geographic footprint and included groups from the Dominican Republic, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, and an extended network of Colombian Waterkeepers.
Supporting voices included Dr. Rosalia Arteaga, former president of Ecuador and Waterkeeper Alliance Global Ambassador, lending political and moral weight to the scientific and social claims.
Their demands centered on stronger, more equitable climate action by 2030. Key asks included:
Why the declaration matters now
The coalition’s timing is deliberate. Latin America is simultaneously a hotspot for biodiversity, a source of global carbon sinks, and a region already experiencing climate extremes — from unprecedented floods to tightening droughts.
Protecting water resources is therefore central to both adaptation and mitigation strategies.
The groups emphasize that water protection is not a narrow environmental concern but a cross-cutting requirement for food security, public health, and sustainable development.
Strengthened policies and financing are needed to translate national commitments into on-the-ground conservation and restoration.
The IPCC context and Paris Agreement urgency
In their letter the Waterkeeper coalition cites the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) findings that human-caused warming has reached about 1.1°C and could surpass 1.5°C in the 2030s under current trends.
That trajectory increases the likelihood of more frequent extreme weather events and pushes some ecosystems toward irreversible thresholds.
Against that scientific backdrop, the coalition presses for an acceleration of mitigation and robust adaptation measures.
Their 2030 deadline aligns with global calls to close the emissions gap and to implement nature-based solutions that protect water and biodiversity simultaneously.
Building on prior momentum
This action follows a previous declaration at COP16 in Cali, Colombia. That declaration also prioritized water and biodiversity protection.
The continuity demonstrates accumulating regional leadership. It also shows a coordinated strategy to hold national and international actors accountable.
As a long-time observer of environmental advocacy in Latin America, I see this coalition as a practical example of science-informed civil society engagement. It combines local expertise, regional coordination, and international advocacy to push for measurable, equitable climate outcomes.
For governments and funders, the message is straightforward: invest in watershed protection, respect Paris targets, and center communities who depend on healthy rivers and ecosystems.
Here is the source article for this story: Latin American Waterkeepers Call for Stronger Climate Action at COP30