B Lab Global’s Collective Message to COP30

Climate change is an issue that we can no longer ignore, and we must take deliberate actions to combat its adverse effects. Some of the most effective solutions come from the most adversely affected populations, including non-English-speaking stakeholders from the Global South. That message was made abundantly clear at Sistema B’s Encuentro+B in September 2025, B Lab’s premier conference platform in Latin America, which took place in Belém, Brazil, the host city of the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP30), shortly thereafter in November 2025.

One of the main collective calls to action from Encuentro+B was a manifesto addressed to the Presidency of COP30, a call to world leaders to reform corporate law, strengthen climate accountability, and make human rights and environmental due diligence a requirement for all. Grounded in the principles of the new B Lab Standards (V2), B Lab and Sistema B’s COP30 Manifesto is a step toward rewiring our global economy for a fair, inclusive, and sustainable future. With thousands of Certified B Corporations around the world embracing this approach and leading the way, it is now time for the rest of the world to follow suit.

B Lab organized a public webinar to discuss the COP30 Manifesto and encourage all values-aligned individuals and companies to make their voices heard by signing the document. Given the global nature of this movement and the COP30 platform, this initiative needed to go well beyond English-speaking stakeholders.

The COP30 Manifesto webinar extended to more stakeholders than ever in our global ecosystem of Certified B Corporations. With a panel encompassing native speakers of English, Spanish, and Portuguese, along with hundreds of non-English-speaking webinar attendees, language access was a key component of ensuring everyone had a seat at the table and the equity to make their voices heard, meaning live (simultaneous) interpreting would be needed. We had the distinct privilege of partnering with B Lab to provide this service.

Understanding the gravity of our role in this initiative as language professionals, we made history with B Lab in a few ways:
✔ In partnership with B Lab Global, we provided live (simultaneous) interpreting across English, Spanish, and Portuguese. This event was the first time that B Lab Global ever made this type of language access available for its programming across any language other than English.
✔ We stayed true to our commitment to demonstrate diversity in our supply chain, including the language professional partners that work alongside us, by assembling an all-Black interpreting team to provide language access to all webinar attendees.
✔ We displayed logistical agility by tending to B Lab’s needs in the planning process.

✔ Increased awareness of the relevance and magnitude of bringing B Lab’s pillars for B Certification to the UN’s Climate Change Conference (COP30), the world’s premier platform for discussions on combating one of the most consequential crises facing people and planet today.
✔ Stronger voice through the collective action of more than 150 signatories rallying around the COP30 Manifesto as a result of our language access efforts for over 200 webinar participants.
✔ More robust international engagement, fortifying collaboration and understanding between Portuguese-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and English-speaking stakeholders united for people and planet.
✔ Growing credibility with key stakeholders, thus cementing our position as a key interpreting partner for B Lab as a global entity.

By recognizing the importance of language access in the fight against climate change, we have not only amplified the input of historically underrecognized stakeholders across the Global South but have emphasized the need for collective action on a larger scale as the only way to incubate a global economy that is more just, equitable, and regenerative.

That’s how we’re benefiting our ecosystem, not only as specialists in the B Certification journey but as language professionals deeply committed to centralizing the voices of non-English-speaking stakeholders in crucial conversations that ultimately affect them.

Are language barriers limiting your impact? Your mission deserves to be heard—clearly, accurately, and in real time. Whether in courtrooms or at conferences, language differences shouldn’t stand in the way of advocacy, collaboration, or decision-making. It’s at these crossroads where we operate best. Learn more about how we can build bridges to purposeful impact together through our Interpreting service.