Eleven country delegations join the launch of the first AI marketplace to bridge capital to communities at COP30

• Luxembourg announced Rio Changemakers as a cornerstone of its new ambitious Climate Nexus Investment Program, committing EUR 320 million over the next five years to advance transparent, high-integrity, locally-led nature-based solutions
• Eleven ministers and high representatives joined the High-Level Roundtable at COP30, demonstrating strong international support for the launch of Rio Changemakers, an AI-powered marketplace unlocking private investment in climate, biodiversity, land and community solutions
• This one-of-a-kind initiative aims to bridge global investors with on-the-ground projects, especially those led by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, strengthening the synergies of the three Rio Conventions and accelerating restorative finance and nature-based solutions in the Global South

Belém, Brazil (19 November 2025) – Today, the Government of Luxembourg and the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) announced Rio Changemakers at the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30). This one-of-a-kind AI-powered marketplace will connect investors, funds and projects with high-integrity, locally-led climate and nature solutions.

Co-developed by Luxembourg and the GLF and supported by a growing number of countries and stakeholders, the new initiative responds to a major funding gap, with less than 15 percent of climate and nature finance currently reaching local actors. The platform's AI matchmaking engine will curate investment pipelines, linking projects to finance and technical assistance to ensure they are bankable and impact-ready.

 "This roundtable marks the official launch of Rio Changemakers – a bold, inclusive and science-guided initiative designed to unlock private investment across climate, biodiversity, land and community. Powered by AI and rooted in partnership, Rio Changemakers is more than a marketplace. It is a bridge – connecting high-integrity, locally-led solutions with the capital, capacity and collaboration they need to thrive,” said H.E. Serge Wilmes, Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity of Luxembourg.

 "Let us lay the foundation for an annual follow-up and stocktaking mechanism to track ambition, implementation and impact. This will help ensure accountability, transparency and continuous learning. Let us work together to ensure that nature-based solutions are not only morally right but financially viable, because investing in nature is investing in our shared future. Luxembourg may be small in size, but we are strong in resolve. To us, leadership is not about dominance – it is about service. It is about showing up when it matters most," he added.

 "The interaction between people and nature, where these intelligences can contribute, is not an easy task as the high biological and cultural diversity clearly demands complex decision-making systems. Count on us to build robust models that reduce risks and allow institutions access to reliable funding and, above all, funding that promotes synergy across territories," said Alexandre Dias Monteiro, Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy, Cabo Verde.

 "This initiative will improve decision making and coordination, assess risks, streamline investment, ensure the availability of data and help us ensure transparency and accountability. If you could make it affordable, this initiative can connect the global market and enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable countries," said AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary and Wing Chief of the United Nations Wing and Chair of International Climate Finance Cell at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh.

"I applaud the creation of the Rio Changemakers. It is so important to generate innovative changes in the world as we see it, and there's so much need for financial support in the [Global] South. I see this as a great opportunity for the South to match with the North. I believe this can help us support the financial needs, which are enormous," said Edwin Castellanos, Deputy Minister of Environment, Guatemala.

"The initiative from Luxembourg has a potential positive impact on Ethiopia. We can proudly establish a new partnership, a seed that we can nurture together in the times to come,” said Mulugeta Worku, the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR), from the Ministry of Planning & Development

"We have to use AI, we know it. It's a learning process. In private finance, we can see how the Rio Changemakers is useful. Such a matchmaking platform is an interesting application to bring in more private capital for the three Rio Conventions," said Felix Wertli, Ambassador for the Environment, Switzerland.

"Tunisia is ready to collaborate on this initiative. A global marketplace based on AI can broaden access to capital, improve project visibility, reduce transaction costs and strengthen trust with investors," said Habib Abid, Minister of Environment, Tunisia.

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

Ministers from countries and organizations participated in the launch roundtable event, conveying support:

• Serge Wilmes, Minister of 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, CABO VERDE
• Habib Abid, Minister of Environment, TUNISIA
• Felix Wertli, Ambassador for the Environment, SWITZERLAND
• Christian Stenberg, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, DENMARK
• Karin Jehle, Office of Environment, LIECHTENSTEIN
• Sohel Akm, Additional Secretary and Wing Chief of the United Nations at the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance, BANGLADESH
• Edwin Castellanos, Deputy Minister of Environment, GUATEMALA
• Muhiden Negash, Ministry of Planning and Development, ETHIOPIA
• Ismail Belen, UNFF chair, Forest Administration OGM, TURKEY
• Ysa Calderon, SUMAK KAWSAY

About the GLF 

The Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) is the world's largest knowledge-led platform on integrated land use, connecting people with a shared vision to create productive, profitable, equitable and resilient landscapes. It is led by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), in collaboration with its co-founders UNEP and the World Bank, and its charter members. Learn more at www.globallandscapesforum.org.

About the Luxembourg-GLF Finance for Nature Platform 

The Luxembourg–GLF Finance for Nature Platform is a partnership between the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) to mainstream investments in sustainable land use and climate. The platform aims to shift financial flows towards sustainable land use models that are sustainable, equitable, inclusive and profitable not only boost economic returns but also to help drastically increase funding to combat climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation. Learn more at www.globallandscapesforum.org/luxembourg-glf-platform/

Press release by the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity / CIFOR-ICRAF