On November 7 and 8, 2025, the International Seminar: 25 Years of the Earth Charter – Turning Consciousness into Action, a pre-COP30 event, was held at the Vila Maguari Theater in Ananindeua, Pará, Brazil. The gathering brought together representatives from the federal and local governments, civil society, the academic community, and youth from various regions, creating a space for intergenerational dialogue and cooperation around the principles of the Earth Charter.
The seminar aimed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Earth Charter—a milestone in building a global ethic grounded in sustainability, social justice, and peace—while providing a platform for sharing experiences and identifying ways to contribute to the COP30 process. The event underscored the Earth Charter’s role as an ethical compass to address the climate and socio-environmental crises we face today, as well as its value as a tool that expands consciousness and transforms it into action.
Opening Session
The opening ceremony featured remarks by:
- Márcia Helena Lopes, Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, Brazil
- Daniel Santos, Mayor of Ananindeua
- Alessandra Haber, Federal Deputy (Pará)
- Pedro Ivo Batista, President of the Alternativa Terrazul Association
- Nelton Friedrich, Director of the Department for the Revitalization of River Basins, Ministry of Integration
- Lavito Bacarissa, Executive Secretary of CNODS, Office of the President of the Republic
- Artur Moret, Coordinator of Environmental Health, Funasa
Active participants throughout the event also included:
- Mirian Vilela, Executive Director, Earth Charter International
- Marcos Sorrentino, Director of the Department of Environmental Education, Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
- Alexandre Diniz, President, Instituto Salvaterra
Highlights from the Discussions
In her address, Minister Márcia Helena Lopes emphasized:
“If the Earth Charter offers us a path, it is up to us — governments, organizations, movements, and communities — to turn that path into action: feminist, democratic, inclusive, and deeply committed to life.” (Click here for the Minister’s full speech)
Daniel Santos, Mayor of Ananindeua, highlighted the ongoing transformation of the municipality, especially regarding improvements in sanitation:
“After being one of the worst, Ananindeua is now an example in basic sanitation.”
He also warned of the imminent risk of building a landfill or waste disposal site in a nearby area with important water springs, in the Acará region, which could receive waste from Belém and neighboring municipalities.
Federal Deputy Alessandra Haber reaffirmed Ananindeua’s and Pará’s commitment to sustainable development that combines progress, responsibility, and environmental preservation, stressing the importance of the Earth Charter as a guiding instrument.
Pedro Ivo Batista, President of Alternativa Terrazul, highlighted the Earth Charter as an ethical reference for building more just and sustainable societies and as a tool for mobilizing civil society — especially in the context of COP30, marked by dilemmas and contradictions:
“The Global Ethical Stocktaking is a space that this COP opens for philosophical reflection on the centrality of life and on why we have not yet fulfilled what has already been agreed upon. The Earth Charter serves as an ethical compass for this exercise.”
Nelton Friedrich emphasized the richness of the Earth Charter and its life-centered worldview, based on interdependence, responsibility toward future generations, and ethics of care. He recalled the work carried out under the Earth Charter framework during his coordination of the Cultivating Good Water Program at Itaipu Binacional.
Ananindeua’s Commitment
On this occasion, the local government of Ananindeua signed a Commitment Letter, affirming its engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the implementation of the principles of the Earth Charter.
The document highlights the mayor’s pledge to consider the 16 principles of the Earth Charter in the formulation of public policies and in the municipality’s strategic planning.
Over the two days of the seminar, six thematic panels were held, fostering reflection, dialogue, and exchange of experiences, while encouraging the collective construction of strategies to accelerate the transition toward a sustainable and inclusive future. The panels addressed:
- Respect and Care for the Community of Life – Earth Charter Pillar I
- Ecological Integrity – Pillar II
- Social and Economic Justice – Pillar II
- Democracy, Nonviolence, and Peace – Pillar IV
- The Earth Charter and the Global Ethical Stocktaking
- Youth, the Earth Charter, and Climate Action
Cultural Activities and Tributes
The event featured a performance of the play “Gandhi, a Human Leader”, developed and performed by actor João Signorelli; the premiere of the series Manual for 21st Century Survival, with the participation of director João Amorim; and a cultural act with traditional local music and dance, engaging the audience in celebration and joy.
On behalf of Earth Charter International, Mirian Vilela presented a recognition to Pedro Ivo Batista for his dedication and tireless work of more than 20 years promoting the Earth Charter.
Organization and Support
The event was organized by the Alternativa Terrazul Association (an affiliate of Earth Charter International) in collaboration with the Instituto Salvaterra, the International Water and Transdisciplinarity Center (CIRAT), and the Earth Charter Brazil Network (Teia Carta da Terra Brasil).
It was supported by the Amazon Working Group (GTA), the Brazilian Forum of NGOs and Social Movements for the Environment and Development (FBOMS), Earth Charter International, and specially the Municipality of Ananindeua.
Local coordination was led by Vera Guedes, Deputy Secretary for Climate Change Response in Ananindeua, with the support of several municipal officials.
