The actions we take today will determine the future of our planet for generations to come [Video]

Read Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s keynote address

Mary Robinson and Colleagues of the Elders, Minister Franco, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a profound honour to return to Brazil since I visited in April 2010 on the invitation of President Lula for a state visit. Today I stand before you as we gather to discuss one of the most critical challenges of our time – climate change. As the former President of Liberia, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impacts that climate change can have on communities, on nations, on people. Today, I want to speak about the role Brazil, as the current holder of the G20 presidency and the host of COP30 and upcoming BRICS in 2025, can play in mobilising the world to tackle this existential crisis.

We are at a relevant and pivotal moment in history. The actions we take today will determine the future of our planet for generations to come. This is why …