Eleven national delegations take part in the launch of the first AI platform to facilitate access to capital for communities at COP30

• Luxembourg has announced the Rio Changemakers project as part of its ambitious new Climate Nexus investment strategy, committing €320 million over five years to promote nature-based solutions with transparency, integrity and local ownership.
• Eleven ministers and senior representatives joined the high-level roundtable at COP30, demonstrating broad international support for the launch of Rio Changemakers, an AI-based platform that unlocks private investment in climate, biodiversity, land and community solutions.
• This initiative aims to connect international investors with credible and concrete projects, particularly those led by indigenous peoples and local communities, thereby reinforcing the synergies of the three Rio Conventions and accelerating funding for the countries of the South.

Belém, Brazil (19 November 2025) Today, the Luxembourg government and the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) announced the launch of Rio Changemakers at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2025. This unique platform, based on artificial intelligence, will connect investors, funds and projects that deliver locally-driven climate and environmental solutions with integrity.

Developed jointly by Luxembourg and the GLF, and supported by a growing number of countries and stakeholders, this new initiative responds to a major funding gap: less than 15 % of funding allocated to climate and nature protection currently reaches local stakeholders. The platform's artificial intelligence matching engine selects investment projects, linking them to funding and technical assistance to ensure their financial viability and immediate impact.

«This roundtable marks the official launch of Rio Changemakers, a bold, inclusive and science-based initiative designed to mobilise private investment in climate, biodiversity, land and communities. AI-powered and rooted in partnership, Rio Changemakers is more than just a platform. It is a bridge that connects local solutions with integrity to the capital, capacity and collaboration they need to thrive,» said H.E. Serge Wilmes, Luxembourg's Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity.

«Let's put in place an annual monitoring and evaluation mechanism to measure our ambitions, the implementation of our actions and their impact. This will ensure accountability, transparency and continuous learning. Let's work together to ensure that nature-based solutions are not only morally right, but also financially viable. Because investing in nature is investing in our common future. Luxembourg may be small in size, but its determination is strong. For us, leadership is not synonymous with domination, but with service. It's about being there when it matters most», he added.

«The interaction between human beings and nature, where these intelligences can contribute, is a complex task, because the great biological and cultural diversity clearly requires sophisticated decision-making systems. You can count on us to develop robust models that reduce risks and enable institutions to access reliable financing, and above all, financing that promotes synergy between territories», said Alexandre Dias Monteiro, Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, Cape Verde.

«This initiative will improve decision-making, coordination and risk assessment, rationalise investments, ensure the availability of data and promote transparency and accountability. If it could be made affordable, it could connect the global market and strengthen the climate resilience of vulnerable countries», said a spokesperson for the initiative AKM Sohel, Deputy Secretary and Head of the United Nations Section and Chair of the International Climate Finance Unit at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Bangladesh Ministry of Finance.

«I welcome the creation of Rio Changemakers. It is essential to bring about innovative changes in the world as we understand it, and the countries of the South are in desperate need of financial support. I see this as a fantastic opportunity for the South to work with the North. I am convinced that this will enable us to meet these considerable financial needs», said Edwin Castellanos, Vice-Minister for the Environment, Guatemala.

«The Luxembourg initiative has a potentially positive impact on Ethiopia. We can proudly establish a new partnership, a seed that we can grow together in the years to come», said Mulugeta Worku, Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) programme, Ministry of Planning and Development.

«We have to use AI and we know that. It's a learning process. In private finance, we are seeing the usefulness of Rio Changemakers. A matchmaking platform like this is an interesting application for mobilising more private capital in support of the three Rio Conventions», said Felix Wertli, Ambassador for the Environment, Switzerland.

«Tunisia is ready to collaborate in this initiative. A global platform, driven by AI, can broaden access to capital, improve the visibility of projects, reduce transaction costs and boost investor confidence,» said Habib Abid, Tunisia's Minister of the Environment.

Ministers from various countries and organisations took part in the launch round table, demonstrating their broad support:
- Serge Wilmes, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Grand Duchy of LUXEMBOURG
- Rita Mesquita, National Secretary for Biodiversity, Forests and Animal Rights, BRAZIL
- Alexandre Dias Monteiro, Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, CAPE VERDE
- Habib Abid, Minister for the Environment, TUNISIA
- Felix Wertli, Ambassador for the Environment, SWITZERLAND
- Christian Stenberg, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, DENMARK
- Karin Jehle, Environmental Office, LIECHTENSTEIN
- Sohel Akm, Deputy Secretary and Head of the United Nations Section at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance, BANGLADESH
- Edwin Castellanos, Vice-Minister for the Environment, GUATEMALA
- Muhiden Negash, Ministry of Planning and Development, ETHIOPIA
- Ismail Belen, President of UNFF, OGM Forestry Administration, TURKEY
- Ysa Calderon, SUMAK KAWSAY

After COP30, Rio Changemakers will enter a 12-month pilot phase and will be fully operational by COP31.