COP30, indigenous territories, and national elections: fertile ground for climate change work in Bolivia

COP30, indigenous territories, and national elections: fertile ground for climate change work in Bolivia

The Bolivian context towards 2025 presented a challenging scenario in environmental terms, where multiple elements, actors, and processes converge to create fertile ground for work on climate change. Amid a dynamic political and social climate, spaces for dialogue and consultation are opening up where different voices are building collective responses to the country's environmental problems.

Within this framework, the Hanns Seidel Foundation, in strategic alliance with the Bolivian Platform on Climate Change (PBFCC), a national network that brings together more than 55 civil society organizations and institutions, has developed a capacity-building process through the Road to COP30 Program aimed at PBFCC members.

Face-to-face meeting of the Road to COP30 Program

After completing the first three modules online, Module 4 was held in person in Cochabamba on July 17 and 18, led by experts Cesar Gabriel Escobar Vásquez and Mario Vargas Condori. This module focused on alternatives to climate change. Women, young people, and indigenous representatives participated, discussing concrete proposals from their contexts.

Module 5, led by Martha Dimattia, addressed communication as an advocacy tool. The key issues on the COP30 agenda were presented and work was done on three different agendas: Climate Youth, Women Defenders of the Territory, and Indigenous Peoples. These agendas were presented in plenary for validation, strengthening, and collective feedback, concluding with final agreements.

National Meeting of the Bolivian Platform Against Climate Change

With the aim of positioning civil society ahead of the national elections and the update of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the National Meeting of the PBFCC was held in Cochabamba on May 19 and 20. This brought together a diversity of people committed to environmental defense from the territories, under an approach of rights, climate justice, and democratic pluralism.

Through a participatory, horizontal, and critical reflection methodology, topics such as the national political situation, the 2025 electoral process, the construction of a collective political statement, the advocacy agenda, the updating of the NDC, and the unity of the social movement were addressed. The event concluded with the adoption of a resolution that would later be presented at a press conference and would serve as the basis for the preparatory meeting of the political forum, held at the end of July.

Forum “Climate Crisis from the Perspective of Indigenous Peoples and Youth”

In an electoral context where climate change did not occupy a priority place in public debates, the PBFCC promoted the forum “Climate Crisis from the Perspective of Indigenous Peoples and Youth,” with the aim of questioning the vice-presidential and legislative candidates.

The forum, which received significant media coverage, was preceded by a preparatory meeting on July 30 of PBFCC members and allies, where questions were validated, spokespersons were defined, and political commitments to be demanded of the candidates were agreed upon. In addition, the PBFCC's position was consolidated with a strategic vision for the future.

During the event, the first block, led by indigenous representatives, raised questions related to territory and environmental rights. The second block, led by young people, raised concerns about the present and future of the climate crisis. In the third block, the candidates in attendance made concrete commitments, contrasting their proposals with the issues raised.

The final segment presented the political position of civil society and the PBFCC, with 16 proposals developed from the grassroots level, aimed at structurally transforming the country's response to climate change.

A path that continues

Each module, forum, and meeting strengthens the leadership and knowledge of women, youth, and indigenous peoples, who play a leading role in climate action in Bolivia. On the road to COP30, building a deep climate culture is essential. Only by understanding the context and territorial diversity is it possible to imagine and build fair, sustainable, and transformative solutions for the country.