LONDON, Oct 12 – As Belém in Brazil prepares to host the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP30) from November 10 to 21, the city braces for a surge in domestic and international flights. To prepare for the inflow of tens of thousands of visitors, authorities are building a new four-lane highway and doubling Belém’s airport capacity. At a time of climate emergency, and with air travel contributing to the global emissions driving the crisis, Flotilla4Change is charting a new course to the summit.
Green Travel to COP30
Flotilla4Change is a non-profit project established to meet rising demand for greener routes to COP and other climate forums. Alongside its partners which include Sail4Earth, Fair Ferry, VoyageVert, and Not1More, its mission is to deploy a flotilla of wind-powered ships to COP30. The organisation is also dedicated to amplifying the voices of marginalised communities on the frontlines of climate breakdown.
Flotilla4Change challenges the status quo of climate diplomacy, where leaders discussing planetary boundaries simultaneously transgress them through carbon-intensive trips. The organisation thereby creates a new model for long-distance travel—one where sustainable travel is normalised and celebrated
“At a time when governments, politicians, and extractivist corporations are failing us, we decided to sail in a different direction”, said Karina Ponton, Flotilla4Change’s Project Manager.
“Flotilla4change is a way to offer a glimpse of the ocean’s magic to others, whilst providing a sustainable solution to intercontinental travel”, added Ross Porter, founding organiser of Flotilla4Change and captain of SY Sababa. “I see Flotilla4Change as an outreach, a demonstration of what travel can be”.
The Transatlantic Journey
In mid-October, the flotilla will depart from European ports on the transatlantic voyage, which is expected to take between three and four weeks, depending on weather conditions. The boats will transport a wide range of campaigners, from elected politicians and NGO delegates to frontline earth defenders. This includes Melody Gold Barry-Yobo, an environmental activist from the Niger Delta region in Nigeria. By bringing together advocates from all corners of the climate movement, the flotilla embodies the kind of internationalist solidarity and collective power needed to tackle the crisis.
“Sailing is my way of life”, declared Porter. “I get seriously excited about the magic that is making a boat move from continent to continent using the power of nature. There’s more to it than that, though: I love the feeling of ‘making wind’. It’s about choosing the best course you can, given the climate emergency. Sailing teaches patience, perseverance, grit, and endurance. It brings us closer to nature, allowing us to witness overwhelming beauty and sheer magic: horizon stars, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, and ocean wildlife. It also brings us closer to one another”.
Throughout the crossing, activists aboard the flotilla will document their experiences to showcase the realities of low-carbon travel, from the physical challenges of sailing to the friendships forged when people journey together. They will also use social media to engage global audiences on critical topics, including climate justice, global emission targets, agroecology, ocean acidification, and biodiversity loss.
“Flotilla4Change is sailing to COP, but as we all know, it’s never really about the destination: it’s about the journey itself and what we learn along the way”, stated Ponton.
The People’s COP
Once in Belém, several boats will remain stationed for the duration of the conference, doubling as lodgings for COP participants. This strategy will provide relief for the severely saturated housing market, which has reportedly resorted to evicting residents to accommodate COP30 participants.
The vessels will also serve as a stage for discussions, workshops, and assemblies as part of the People’s COP, an alternative climate forum for grassroots voices and frontline perspectives. These gatherings, which will feature storytelling, music, and cultural exchange, will foster cross-border solidarity and remind participants why they fight—not just against climate change, but for a world rooted in justice and dignity for all.
A Model for Future Climate Gatherings
The success of Flotilla4Change extends beyond COP30, with the initiative establishing a blueprint for future climate conferences. The organisation is currently building partnerships with sailing communities worldwide, establishing a network of vessels and captains committed to providing sustainable transport for upcoming forums.
By demonstrating the viability of sailing as a form of intercontinental travel for climate diplomacy, Flotilla4Change is challenging the assumption that rapid, polluting transit is inevitable or necessary. As Ponton said, “We’re choosing to journey together toward a future that we’re actively creating in the here and now—by disrupting the status quo, learning from indigenous knowledge systems, and proving that sailing can be inclusive and accessible for everyone, not just the privileged few. This isn’t aspirational; it’s happening right now”.
Author: Eva Morisot