Field Visit to Palmas and Porto Nacional to enhance climate change and human rights education

Following our participation in COP30, our team carried out a field visit to Palmas and Porto Nacional, in the state of Tocantins, Brazil, as part of our work on climate change and human rights education for youth in the Amazon. Building on COP30’s momentum and in collaboration with members of the Dominican Family and other partners, the visit assessed local approaches to climate education – from curriculum integration and hands-on projects like school gardens, tree planting, and resilience initiatives, to connections with climate justice and human rights. This mission marked an important step in connecting with local schools, educators, and faith-based institutions to strengthen awareness and collective action on the environmental and human rights challenges facing the region.

Throughout the visit, our team met with teachers and administrators from Dominican, Franciscan, Marist, and public schools as key actors in empowering young people to act for a just and sustainable future. These discussions identified opportunities for collaboration with Catholic and other schools, along with teacher training needs to enhance climate change and human rights education. A highlight of the mission was meeting with Archbishop Dom Pedro Brito of Palmas and Bishop Dom José Moreira da Silva of Porto Nacional who emphasized the Church’s commitment to climate education.

The field visit also offered valuable insights into the realities faced by local communities, from the effects of environmental degradation to the changing climate conditions that directly impact their lives. Listening to local educators and community members helped us better understand these challenges and ensure that our efforts reflect the lived experiences of local communities. This experience strengthened our understanding of local contexts and educational needs, enabling us to support schools in integrating and reinforcing meaningful, locally rooted approaches to climate change and human rights education. This mission reaffirms our commitment to empowering a new generation of young people to defend human dignity and our planet.