Leaders of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) reaffirmed their commitment to protect the Amazon and combat climate change at a summit in Bogotá on Friday (August 22), according to a joint declaration. The presidents of Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, and the vice-president of Ecuador emphasized the urgency of unified action to prevent deforestation, protect indigenous peoples, and promote sustainable development in the region.

The summit, held ahead of the COP30 climate conference in Belem do Para, Brazil, focused on implementing the Belem Declaration, which includes 29 resolutions to address deforestation, illegal mining, and transnational crime. Colombian President Gustavo Petro underscored the need for global solidarity, stating that the world must choose between "chaos and war" or "saving life and prosperity."

The Amazon, often called the "lungs of the Earth," faces increasing threats from deforestation, illegal mining, and organized crime, which have accelerated biodiversity loss and climate change. The summit’s outcomes will be presented at COP30, where Amazon countries seek to secure global commitments to fund conservation and sustainable development.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (AUGUST 22, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA ARRIVING AT VENUE AND EMBRACING BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT ARCE

2. (FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) ECUADOREAN VICE PRESIDENT, MARIA JOSE PINTO, LULA, COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, GUSTAVO PETRO AND DURING CLOSING OF SUMMIT

3. ARMED FORCES OFFICERS AT EVENT

4. PINTO, LULA, PETRO AND ARCE ON STAGE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, SAYING:

"This COP 30 will be the COP of the truth, it will be the COP where people will have to take responsibility for saying whether or not they believe what science is telling us. Whether or not they believe in the changes and hardships that we are seeing every day in each country, in each of our states. And it will be the moment for us to tell rich countries that it is time for them to fulfil the commitments made throughout the various COP's, because we intend, as an Amazonian country, to take responsibility for caring for the Amazon."

6. CAMERAMEN FILMING THE EVENT

7. VARIOUS OF PETRO’S SPEECH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) GUSTAVO PETRO, COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT, SAYING:

"Undoubtedly, our united presence at the upcoming COP30 in Belem do Para is crucial. The world must choose between chaos and war, or saving life, prosperity, and human culture on our planet."

9. COLOMBIAN ARMED FORCES OFFICERS AT EVENT

10. PINTO, LULA, PETRO AND ARCE ON STAGE

11. ARCE DURING STATEMENT

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) BOLIVIAN PRESIDENT, LUIS ARCE, SAYING:

"This meeting has been very productive in analysing and agreeing on points among all Amazonian countries, resulting in a declaration that reflects the hard work of our technical teams. We want to show progress, but we know there is still much to do."

13. LEADERS HUGGING AT THE END OF STATEMENTS

14. VARIOUS OF ATTENDEES LEAVING EVENT AFTER SUMMIT