Trees and forests not only supply oxygen to a city like Antwerp, the great rainforests are the lungs of the world. They are the largest global cooling systems and water pumps, not to mention their importance for biodiversity.

Forest conservation will be one of the main themes of the 30th United Nations Climate Conference in Brazil, which starts on November 10. How can we protect these global ecosystems and at the same time ensure greater prosperity for local populations?

This is naturally linked to financing the fight against climate change: if Brazil, Congo and Indonesia have to prevent the deforestation of their tropical forests, it is necessary for rich countries to support them in this process. This will be easier if all countries recognise the conservation of these forests as a common goal – in the interests of climate stability for everyone.

Fundamentally, this debate is about climate justice: poorer countries, that are hardest hit by the climate crisis and have contributed least to the problem, are demanding that the promised climate finance finally be put into practice.

Together with MO*Magazine, Spreken is Goud invites you to a discussion with journalist and author John Vandaele, Dayana Corzo Joya from CATAPA and Hans Moyson from WWF Belgium.

MO* journalist Elien Spillebeen will moderate and climate poet Moya De Feyter will present a selection of her work.

Image: Bart Lasuy