The president designate of COP26, Alok Sharma, visited Brazil for three days a few months before the conference. During the stay, he found an experienced guide in civil society that was willing to show paths, difficulties and work in partnership. The Institute for Climate and Society and some of its grantees (Brazilian Coalition on Climate, Forests and Agriculture, CONAQ, Climate Observatory, CNS, APIB and CEBDS) effectively became hosts for Sharma, with proposals for the COP. The move was important because, once again, the Brazilian government showed contempt for the climate agenda: president Jair Bolsonaro canceled a meeting at the last minute with Alok.