A high-level side event at COP30 in Brazil has placed natural rubber at the center of global climate action, positioning it not only as a vital raw material but as a strategic solution for mitigation, resilience and long-term sustainability. The session, titled “Promoting Smallholder Projects for Net-Zero and Beyond,” was organized by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC), supported by the International Rubber Research and Development Board (IRRDB), and co-organized by the American Forest Foundation (AFF).

The discussions underscored the growing recognition that natural rubber, a commodity dominated by millions of smallholders, can play a pivotal role in meeting global net-zero ambitions. With its unique capacity for carbon sequestration, its contribution to diversified agroforestry systems, and its ability to support nature-positive livelihoods, natural rubber is increasingly being viewed as an underutilized but powerful climate asset.

Speakers spotlighted the central role of smallholder producers in driving climate outcomes and emphasized the importance of better tools, financing mechanisms, technical support and cross-sector partnerships to unlock natural rubber’s full climate potential. They highlighted the opportunity to scale up successful community-driven climate initiatives and the need to improve productivity, strengthen compliance frameworks and build more efficient, equitable value chains that align with global sustainability standards.

The event signaled a broader shift in how the natural rubber ecosystem is perceived—from a traditional industrial commodity to a critical pathway for climate mitigation, adaptation and rural transformation. As COP30 continues to push the boundaries of climate ambition, natural rubber has emerged as one of the key nature-based solutions capable of delivering both environmental and socioeconomic impact at scale.