The Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI), of the University of São Paulo (USP), played an active role at COP30, held in Belém from November 10 to 16, with an intensive agenda focused on international dialogue, panel participation, and scientific articulation. Representing the center were Scientific Director Prof. Julio Meneghini and Director of Human Resources and Institutional Communication Prof. Karen Mascarenhas, alongside professors Paulo Artaxo (IF-USP) and Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri (ESALQ-USP).

Education and climate – Prof. Julio Meneghini took part in the panel “Higher Education for Climate Action”, held on November 15 at the Higher Education Pavilion in the Blue Zone. The session also featured Prof. Patricia Iglecias, USP’s Superintendent of Environmental Management, along with Patrícia Pereira da Silva (Vice-Rector of the University of Coimbra) and Sônia Rodrigues (Coordinator of the Sustainable Development Office of the institution).

The panel discussed pathways to decarbonize large university campuses, including infrastructure modernization, climate governance, energy efficiency, and heritage preservation.

Transport decarbonization – On November 13, Prof. Karen Mascarenhas represented RCGI in the panel “Transport Decarbonization”, held during the UN Global Compact – Brazil Network Side Events, part of the event “From Paper to Practice: From Ambition to Corporate Climate Action”, promoted by the UN Global Compact – Brazil Network.

She addressed technological pathways for transport decarbonization and emphasized the importance of cooperation and interdisciplinary approaches. Mascarenhas also presented RCGI’s advances in carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), synthetic fuel pathways, bioenergy, nature-based solutions, and the pioneering renewable hydrogen technology produced from ethanol, developed at the center.

Strategic dialogues – Between November 10 and 14, Meneghini and Mascarenhas participated in the Climate Action House Leaders’ Lunch Sessions, which brought together between 60 and 80 global leaders daily for thematic discussions on digital innovation, energy transition, climate finance, low-carbon industry, and biodiversity. The sessions, co-organized with institutional partners and widely attended by companies, investors, and multilateral organizations, deepened dialogue on governance and the implementation of climate solutions.

Low-carbon technologies – The team also attended an international CCS side event promoted by CCS Brasil on November 14, bringing together experts from Brazil and other countries to discuss trends and challenges in carbon capture and storage. In addition, they participated in an event by invitation of Fernanda Delgado, Executive Director of the Brazilian Hydrogen Association, where they met with Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, President of COP30.

They also received an invitation to visit the Green Pioneer, Fortescue’s ammonia-powered vessel — the world’s first dual-fuel ship powered by ammonia and recognized by TIME as one of the Best Inventions of 2025 — and visited the hydrogen-powered boat by GWM, docked at Porto Futuro.

Research and impact – RCGI’s participation reinforced the leading role of Brazilian public universities in the global climate agenda. For Meneghini, bringing scientific knowledge to COP is essential to accelerating solutions:

“RCGI exists to transform scientific knowledge into real solutions. At COP, we demonstrated that Brazilian academia can lead essential technologies for decarbonization — and that we are ready to collaborate globally.”

Karen Mascarenhas highlighted the relevance of the event in connecting research and society:

“COP is where science needs to be. Not only to present results, but to engage in dialogue and build solutions that make sense for Brazil and for the world.”