At COP30 in Rio de Janeiro, the Open Society Foundations announced a major $19.5 million commitment to strengthen environmental justice and support a fair, sustainable economy in Latin America. The initiative aims to protect environmental defenders, promote green economic opportunities, and ensure that environmental and economic transitions uphold human rights and community participation. Open Society President Binaifer Nowrojee emphasized that these investments reflect the foundation’s commitment to climate justice, democracy, and shared prosperity, describing the initiative as a “bold vision for a future rooted in fairness, resilience, and hope.”
A key focus of the investment is on strengthening the Escazú Agreement, the first regional environmental treaty in Latin America and the Caribbean. The agreement seeks to uphold the right to a healthy environment and protect environmental defenders, many of whom face growing threats. Open Society will fund both the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and civil society organizations to make environmental information more accessible, ensure public participation in decision-making, and protect those on the frontlines of environmental advocacy.
Through the Soros Economic Development Fund, Open Society will also support green economic growth in Brazil by investing in private sector initiatives that merge environmental care with economic opportunity. This includes SP Ventures, which backs early-stage agricultural technology companies that reduce carbon emissions and deforestation, and EcoEnterprises, a women-led fund investing in nature-based enterprises that protect ecosystems while creating local jobs.
Another major pillar of the announcement is advancing green sovereign finance to help Brazil shift to a fair and sustainable economy. The program will support the Brazilian Sovereign Wealth Funds Forum to channel oil and mining revenues into green industries, collaborate with the State Development Bank of Espírito Santo to establish a Decarbonization Fund, and work with the Federation of Industries of Espírito Santo to identify promising green sectors and employment opportunities.
Additionally, Open Society will help implement Brazil’s ecological transformation plan at the regional level, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, the Northeast Consortium of Governors, and the Amazon Consortium of Governors. This initiative is designed to expand federal and private investments in regions such as the Amazon and the Northeast, focusing on green industries like biofuels and bio-inputs. By grounding these plans in local communities, the effort seeks to generate jobs, reduce inequality, and accelerate the country’s transition to a cleaner, fairer economy.
Overall, Open Society’s COP30 agenda frames the clean energy transition as an opportunity to rebuild economies, strengthen democracies, and advance justice across Latin America. The foundation’s new regional strategy, inspired by buen vivir—a philosophy rooted in Indigenous and Afro-descendant traditions—emphasizes community, harmony with nature, and collective well-being. Open Society called on governments, donors, and civil society to seize this moment to build a future of dignity, equality, and environmental balance.
