Leveraging Brazil's leadership on climate and environmental action for human security

Brazil is facing a myriad of challenges where climate change, environmental degradation, and human security intersect. This Practical Note, based on the discussions held at the Berlin Climate and Security Conference in Rio de Janeiro (BCSC-Rio), brings together insights from local and international experts and practitioners to highlight the country’s most pressing climate and security issues, leadership and opportunities for international cooperation.

Brazil and the wider Latin America and Caribbean region (LAC) face significant challenges at the intersection of Climate, Peace, and Security (CPS). Brazil experiences extreme weather events such as major floods and droughts, which lead to displacement and loss of livelihoods. Deforestation and fires further contribute to global climate change as well as threaten the livelihoods of traditional communities through the violent escalation of land disputes.

Brazil also suffers from high criminality rates and several organised crime gangs. These illegal groups have, in recent years, increased their activities in biodiversity hotspots such as the Amazon region, engaging in activities such as illegal mining and logging, threatening ecosystems, and increasing the fragility of already vulnerable groups. 

For decades, Brazil has played an important role in the discussions around climate change in international fora. It was in this South American nation that, in 1992, during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the three Rio Conventions were established. Since then, the country has played an active role during COP negotiations and is set to host UNFCCC’s COP30 in the Amazonian city of Belém. 

Against this backdrop, and to develop locally driven solutions, a regional edition of the Berlin Climate and Security Conference (BCSC) was organised in Rio de Janeiro in June 2025, on the sidelines of the XXII Forte International Security Conference. BCSC-Rio is a joint effort of adelphi global, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Igarapé Institute, and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

This Practical Note provides an overview of the discussions that took place at BCSC-Rio, highlighting its key takeaways and ways forward. It also details the forthcoming steps required to further these initiatives. 

Key takeaways include:

• Brazil has historically shown scepticism towards the CPS agenda. Nevertheless, there is a broad agreement that CPS issues are real and pressing.
• Engaging with Brazil on CPS requires understanding local priorities and agreeing on appropriate fora for collaboration.
• Environmental crime has severe implications for carbon emissions and human security. Combating it requires transnational cooperation between producing countries, purchasing markets, and multinational companies.
• Empowering vulnerable communities through protecting land rights, expanding sustainable livelihoods, and ensuring the safety of environmental defenders is essencial for addressing climate and security risks.
• Fostering resilient, locally owned solutions is crucial to bridge the gap between international frameworks and realities on the ground.