During the UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva proposed the creation of a climate council linked to the UN General Assembly, with the aim of giving environmental challenges greater political weight. As reported by Bloomberg, the President stressed that this body will serve as an instrument for strengthening global governance on climate matters, ensuring that commitments and declarations adopted at international summits such as the COP are translated into concrete and measurable actions.
During the opening of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in the Brazilian city of Belém, Lula da Silva urged leaders and representatives of participating countries to “defeat” those who deny climate change and obstruct the fight against global warming. As Bloomberg reported, the Brazilian president noted that the global context is characterized by the spread of fake news, disinformation and attacks against science, which has allowed, in his words, “obscurantists” to reject scientific evidence and the progress made by multilateralism. Lula believes that this phenomenon is reinforced by modern mechanisms such as the control of algorithms, the spread of fear and hatred, and the disqualification of academic and scientific institutions.
In his speech, the President of Brazil stressed that COP30 must become a turning point, which he called “the true Conference of the Parties,” noting that this international meeting has the potential to guide the global climate agenda at a critical moment. Lula admitted that although the international community appears to be moving in the right direction, the pace of progress is not sufficient. According to Bloomberg, the President considered that the commitments made by countries under the 2015 Paris Agreement have not yet reached the level necessary to contain the increase in global temperature.
Lula pointed out, in statements compiled by Bloomberg News, that without this multilateral agreement, the forecast will be more dangerous, as the planet will witness an increase of about 5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. Work begun in Belém aims to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.
The Brazilian President urged world leaders to accelerate climate action on a global scale, considering that halting global warming requires much more than just the sum of official commitments. To achieve emissions reduction goals, he highlighted the importance of developing clear and detailed road maps that allow countries to gradually abandon dependence on fossil fuels, halt and reverse the trend of deforestation, and mobilize the financial, technological and knowledge resources necessary for this transition.
In his speech, Lula stressed that only stronger and more coherent global governance can ensure that decisions are transformed into tangible progress. He added: “Moving forward, there is a need for stronger global governance, capable of ensuring that words are translated into action.” In addition, he advocated the application of international mechanisms that address inequality and help implement these plans in a fair and orderly manner.
Brazil’s president also warned of the risk that disinformation and attacks on science will delay the urgent responses the planet requires. He stressed that deniers are using digital platforms and sophisticated strategies to influence public opinion and influence climate policies, making it necessary to redouble efforts to restore trust in science and multilateral agreements.
During the event, Lula stressed that the current global context requires that action to confront the environmental crisis be collective, coordinated and based on scientific evidence, highlighting the need to strengthen decision-making processes in international frameworks. As Bloomberg detailed, he proposed that the Climate Council take responsibility for coordinating and monitoring climate policy rollout, as well as clarifying action between countries and international organizations.
The Belém meeting, which will last for two weeks, constitutes a framework for negotiations in which representatives of various countries will discuss measures and commitments to limit global warming, in compliance with the commitments made within the framework of the Paris Agreement. Lula stressed that resource mobilization to mitigate the effects of climate change cannot wait, stressing the urgent need to move from rhetoric to effective implementation of environmental solutions on a global scale.
Bloomberg reported that Lula da Silva’s speech received international attention for his call to combat denial and his emphasis on the need to accelerate the implementation of policies against climate change. During his speech, the Brazilian President stressed that COP30 should represent a pre- and post-stage of the global environmental agenda, with science and climate justice as the focus of future agreements.
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