As the world gathers in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-30), the North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) from Assam has stepped onto the global stage to ensure the voices of the region’s flood-affected and climate-vulnerable communities are heard.
Representing NEADS as an Observer of the Start Network, Tirtha Prasad Saikia, the organisation’s Director, said the participation marks a crucial moment for the North-East, one of India’s most climate-sensitive regions.
“We are here because climate change is not a distant issue for us — it’s our everyday reality,” said Saikia. “Assam’s communities have been battling floods, erosion, and livelihood losses for years. Our role at COP-30 is to make sure their experiences, resilience, and traditional wisdom shape the global climate agenda.”
The two-week summit, taking place from November 10 to 21, brings together world leaders, scientists, activists, and civil society groups to find solutions to the escalating climate crisis. For NEADS, the event is an opportunity to bridge the local with the global — sharing lessons from the field on how community-led adaptation and Indigenous knowledge can guide effective climate action.
NEADS has been working for over two decades on disaster risk reduction, resilience building, and sustainable livelihoods across Assam. Its initiatives promote climate-resilient farming, community-based disaster preparedness, and the integration of Local, Indigenous and Traditional Knowledge (LITK) in planning and policy.
At COP-30, NEADS will join global discussions on climate justice, Loss and Damage, and equitable adaptation, focusing on how communities in the Global South — from the floodplains of Assam to the forests of the Amazon — share common challenges and hopes.
“Adaptation must begin at the grassroots,” Saikia added. “Communities on the frontline of climate impacts should not be seen as victims but as partners with knowledge, capacity, and solutions. Recognising their contributions is essential for achieving true climate justice.”
As deliberations begin in Belém, NEADS stands among voices from across the world calling for stronger community inclusion, fair climate finance, and recognition of local innovations as the foundation for a resilient and just future.
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