BELÉM — Standing at the edge of the Amazon for COP30, the atmosphere was a world away from the sterile negotiation rooms of past summits. In Belém, the proximity of the rainforest served as a visceral reminder that climate policy is not an abstract debate; it is a matter of survival for the communities that tend our earth. For those of us representing SEKEM and Heliopolis University, the mission was clear: to demonstrate that whether one is reclaiming the Egyptian desert or protecting the Brazilian rainforest, the solution lies in placing agriculture at the heart of climate action, with a focus on the Just Transition mechanism that prioritizes the smallholder farmer.

The Just Transition mechanism reinforces the commitment to ensure that the shift to a green economy does not impose financial or social burdens on the world’s most vulnerable populations. In agriculture, this means we cannot expect a farmer to abandon conventional methods for regenerative ones without protecting their immediate livelihood.

The economic barrier and the “magic tool”

The primary obstacle to making regenerative agriculture a global standard is not a lack of will, but the cost of the transition. At COP30, I emphasized Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) as the “magic tool” for global ecosystem restoration. By rewarding farmers with high-integrity carbon credits, we create a transparent financing system that facilitates the transition to regenerative agriculture and encourages the adoption of solar energy and sustainable water management. This is the core of our work in Egypt: ensuring the entire ecosystem advances in unison, while advocating for smallholder farmers’ livelihoods.

Education as the catalyst for change

At Heliopolis University, we believe that consciousness development is the ultimate driver of progress. We do not aim to produce graduates who are merely climate aware; we prepare them to be climate active. By dedicating a faculty for organic agriculture and integrating students in real-world sustainability practices through Community-Based Learning, we are unlocking the potential of a generation that views regenerative practices as a professional standard rather than a niche alternative.

Global policy and climate finance are essential, but they remain stagnant without the human element. As the discussions in Belém made clear, when we center the community and empower the individual, we transform climate policy into measurable, cooling action for the planet.

Heliopolis University Vice President for Community Development & Partnerships Dr. Ahmed Elshazly

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