Science of Climate Change – First Module of GMACC training initiative in Bolivia

As part of the ongoing Global Project for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change (GMACC), in the beginning of April 2025 the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Bolivia, in partnership with the Plataforma Boliviana Frente al Cambio Climático (PBFCC), launched the first of five workshops designed to strengthen civil society’s capacity to engage in environmental political advocacy ahead of the COP30 negotiations in Belém, Brazil.

The first session, titled “La Ciencia del Cambio Climático”, brought together members of Bolivian civil society organizations affiliated with the PBFCC network. It was guided by two seasoned experts: Marcos Nordgren, a Bolivian biologist and environmental science specialist, and Cristian Flores Mamani, specialist in political advocacy and project coordinator at PBFCC.

Key Findings: What Science Tells Us

Drawing on the latest IPCC reports, the session emphasized the scientific consensus that human activity is unequivocally warming the planet. Nordgren highlighted that each of the past four decades has been progressively hotter than the one before, with global temperatures now averaging 1.1°C above pre-industrial levels. The concentration of CO₂ is at its highest in at least two million years, and the rate of sea-level rise is the fastest in over three millennia.

The experts also noted that warming is not uniform: landmasses are heating more rapidly than oceans, and developing countries suffer the worst consequences despite contributing the least to global emissions. Bolivia, though lacking comprehensive climate data, is already witnessing the tangible impacts - glacier melt, shifts in rainfall patterns, more intense extreme weather, and reduced water availability.

The Need for Urgency

The module stressed the cumulative and compounding nature of greenhouse gas emissions. While methane (CH₄) from agriculture and anaerobic processes is significantly more potent than CO₂, both contribute to a warming trend that is pushing the Earth closer to dangerous tipping points. The IPCC’s call for rapid, large-scale emissions reductions to limit warming to 1.5°C was a major theme throughout the session.

The experts reminded participants that the climate crisis is not just a scientific issue, but a societal and political challenge. Solutions require the transformation of consumption habits, energy systems, and governance structures - changes that are often unpopular, but essential.

Looking Ahead

The workshop concluded by encouraging Bolivian civil society to increase its understanding of scientific facts in order to influence political discourse and contribute to global climate negotiations. As the Camino a la COP30 training series progresses, participants will build on this scientific foundation to explore themes like human rights, climate negotiations, alternative development models, and strategic communication.

By empowering local actors with knowledge and tools, the program helps ensure that Bolivia’s civil society is not only informed but ready to advocate for ambitious and equitable climate action at COP30 and beyond. The GMACC training program continues with further modules on human rights in climate change, climate negotiations, alternatives to climate change, and advocacy which will be held from april to june and provide further insights on climate change related topics to the project participants.