In preparation for the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) participated in the international event "Advancing Super Pollutant Action Towards COP30", held on October 14 and organized by the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) and the Clean Air Fund.In preparation for the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) participated in the international event "Advancing Super Pollutant Action Towards COP30", held on October 14 and organized by the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) and the Clean Air Fund.
The roundtable brought together national authorities, international experts, and civil society representatives to discuss strategies for tackling super pollutants, also known as short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), such as methane, black carbon, and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). These pollutants have a high global warming potential and severe impacts on both the environment and public health. The event served to shape proposals on this topic to be presented at COP30 in Belém.
Brazil’s Opportunity to Lead the Super Pollutant Agenda
Representing MMA, Adalberto Maluf, National Secretary of Urban Environment, Water Resources, and Environmental Quality, emphasized that current global commitments fall short of the climate ambition to limit warming to 1.5°C. He stressed that progress will only be possible with greater focus on reducing SLCPs, which deliver faster climate benefits. Maluf also warned of the severe health impacts of air pollution, especially in Amazonian cities, where states like Acre and Rondônia recently recorded some of the worst air quality levels in the world due to wildfires.
He highlighted the development of Brazil’s national plan to reduce super pollutants and the importance of including dedicated SLCP chapters in the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Brazil is advancing in this direction with support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), through public policies, detailed inventories, and air quality monitoring partnerships with institutions like Fiocruz.
Sectoral Integration Strengthens the Climate Agenda
The event featured representatives from Brazilian ministries with strategic roles in SLCP mitigation. George Yun, General Coordinator of Special Projects and Climate Change at the Ministry of Transport, underscored the importance of reliable data, citing the MelhorAr program, which will implement vehicle inspections and environmental compliance certification for operators.
Bruno Brasil, Director of Sustainable Production and Irrigation at the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, emphasized that mitigation policies must align with producers’ interests. He cited the ABC+ Plan, which has promoted pasture recovery, biodigester use, and crop-livestock-forest integration, resulting in an 11% reduction in methane emission intensity in livestock farming.
Cities and Civil Society on the Front Lines
Camila Acosta Camargo, Senior Manager of the Air Quality Solutions Exchange program at C40 Cities, highlighted that cities, especially in the Global South, are most affected by air pollution. She praised municipalities for their leadership, often adopting more ambitious measures than national governments, such as public transport electrification and urban waste management.
Henrique Bezerra, Latin America Lead at the Global Methane Hub, stressed the urgency of regulatory and financial mechanisms, noting that voluntary commitments are insufficient to meet energy sector targets. He pointed out that while the Global South has the highest methane emissions, it also holds scalable and shareable solutions.
Air Pollution as a Global EmergencyAir Pollution as a Global Emergency
Eamon Ryan, High-Level Advocate for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and former Irish Minister for the Environment, emphasized that air quality improvements should be communicated in terms of lives saved, making the issue more relatable and politically relevant. He advocated for using trade agreements to advance this agenda by incentivizing projects that reduce SLCPs.
Jane Burston, Executive Director of the Clean Air Fund, called for the inclusion of wildfires in climate agendas and proposed a Super Pollutant Summit at COP30 as an opportunity to consolidate Brazil’s global leadership on the issue.Jane Burston, Executive Director of the Clean Air Fund, called for the inclusion of wildfires in climate agendas and proposed a Super Pollutant Summit at COP30 as an opportunity to consolidate Brazil’s global leadership on the issue.
Chris Malley, Senior Researcher at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), noted that SLCP actions save lives and strengthen climate resilience. He shared experiences from integrating SLCPs into NDCs across 25 countries, highlighting interministerial coordination and existing solutions, such as Uruguay’s methane data transparency and Colombia’s black carbon targets.
Zerin Osho, Director at the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (IGSD), advocated for a more integrated narrative that connects climate, health, and everyday impacts. She also emphasized the potential for landfill gas capture, clean fuel policies, and the importance of financing roadmaps between Baku and Belém to scale solutions.
Pathways to COP30 and Beyond
The final discussions, moderated by Paulo Artaxo, Full Professor at the Institute of Physics at USP and member of COP30's Scientific Committee, identified key cooperation opportunities for COP30 and future conferences.The final discussions, moderated by Paulo Artaxo, Full Professor at the Institute of Physics at USP and member of COP30’s Scientific Committee, identified key cooperation opportunities for COP30 and future conferences.
Adalberto Maluf outlined four priority areas for COP30:Adalberto Maluf outlined four priority areas for COP30:
The event reaffirmed that short-lived climate pollutants are gaining strategic relevance ahead of COP30. While methane reduction remains a priority, it is essential to incorporate other SLCPs, such as black carbon, tropospheric ozone, and HFCs, into climate policies, given their faster impact compared to CO2 alone.
Brazil is well-positioned to lead this global agenda, leveraging its predominantly clean energy matrix, successful sustainable agriculture practices, and strong coordination across government and civil society. Its current co-leadership of the CCAC and role as host of COP30 further reinforce this potential.
Participants concluded by emphasizing that the climate, health, and socioeconomic benefits of SLCP action must be communicated clearly and urgently, highlighting their everyday impacts and mobilizing greater political and financial support for concrete solutions.
