Portuguese pavilion at COP30 unites environment and culture

Portugal is at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which runs from 10 to 21 November 2025 in Belém do Pará, Brazil, with a Portuguese pavilion designed by the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura in a partnership between the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Casa da Arquitetura – Centro Português de Arquitetura [Portuguese Architectural Centre].

For the first time, the country has a customised pavilion, fully designed using Portuguese materials, which stakes its claim as a symbol bridging architecture, culture, and sustainability.

The 150 m² space with two facades has an auditorium, a networking area, and a technical support area. Visual communication is backed by an LED wall, complemented with designer furniture by Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura.

The opening of the Portuguese Pavilion on 10 November sees a performance by singer António Zambujo, one of the most renowned Portuguese contemporary music artists. His attendance reinforces the cultural dimension of Portugal’s participation in COP30, stressing the role of language and artistic creation as means to promote a lusophone identity and the dialogue between peoples in global climate action.

The Minister of Environment and Energy Maria da Graça Carvalho stated that "the Portuguese Pavilion is open space, in Portuguese language, which will house initiatives by companies, university, polytechnical institutes, NGOs and projects from the CPLP countries. It is a space for the exchange of knowledge, culture, and solutions — one where fado and innovation will be housed under the same roof".

Maria da Graça Carvalho also stressed that "Portugal wants to build bridges, in climate also. Portuguese architecture, due to its quality and identity, represents our capacity to create responsibly and inspire the global energy and green transition."

COP30 is the first climate conference hosted by a Portuguese language country and it coincides with the Paris Agreement’s 10th anniversary and 20 years since the Kyoto Protocol came into force.

For Portugal, this presence reinforces the commitment to global climate action and enhancing Portuguese language as a vehicle for knowledge, culture, and international cooperation.

During the 12 days of the conference, the Portuguese Pavilion will hold seven daily events with discussions on climate, oceans, water, and energy and with moments dedeicate3d to lusophone culture and science — a space for reunions, dialogue, and inspiration for the global community.

You can watch all the events held in the Portuguese Pavilion live via the Ministry of Environment and Energy’s YouTube channel.