Our Call to Action: IFLA’s COP30 Brazil Position Statement

IFLA proudly announces the release of its COP30 Position Statement, “A Call to Action for COP30: Putting Landscape at the Heart of Climate Action.”

This statement confronts the climate and biodiversity crisis as a fundamental "failure of design", a result of human systems built in conflict with natural ones. We assert that a viable future is impossible unless "LANDSCAPE MUST COME FIRST", as it is the foundational operating system for all life.

We urge global leaders and financiers to move beyond siloed, carbon-only targets and instead: Integrate Landscape as Critical Infrastructure, implementing concepts like "Sponge Cities" to build urban water resilience.

• Empower Integrators and Indigenous Knowledge, recognising landscape architects as essential collaborators who can unite ecology, policy, and community co-creation, guided by Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

• Finance the Foundation, recognising that healthy landscapes are the most cost-effective and durable form of climate infrastructure.

You can read the full position statement here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z5yU1J19pQa_MhPrxSgUiOzxpi1Alf0_/view

We are excited to announce its expert delegation representing the Federation at COP30 Brazil.

This diverse team of global leaders brings together deep expertise and a shared commitment to advancing climate-resilient and sustainable landscapes worldwide.

Dr Bruno Marques, IFLA President: A leading voice in global landscape architecture, with extensive expertise in climate-resilient design, sustainable urbanism, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Indra Purs IFLA Europe President and Outgoing IFLA Chair of Professional Practice: A crucial leader in shaping the profession’s standards and policy responses to global challenges, bringing a strong implementation perspective from Latvia and the EU.

Kotchakorn Voraakhom IFLA Special Envoy for Climate Change & Landprocess, Thailand: A leading international voice on urban climate resilience and water adaptation. Her award-winning projects in Bangkok provide critical, built examples of green infrastructure and “Sponge City” solutions.

Dr. Nadine Bitar Chahine, IFLA Middle East Vice-President, Lebanese Landscape Association: A leading expert on sustainable urban development and climate resilience, advising on urban policies for major MENA cities.

Prof. Luciana Schenk, Conselho de Arquitetura e Urbanismo do Brasil - CAU/BR, professor of Landscape Architecture at the Institute of Architecture and Urbanism of the University of São Paulo: A leading expert on landscape and urban planning in Brazil, providing invaluable local knowledge on nature-based solutions and resilient cities from the University of São Paulo.

Rafael Dodera, IFLA AMERICAS President : Brings a deep understanding of landscape design, management, and bio-aesthetics from a South American perspective.

Steffi Schüppel, Bund Deutscher Landschaftsarchitekt:innen (bdla), Germany: Experienced in bridging practice and policy, with a strong background in cultural heritage, sustainable tourism, and international climate collaboration.