Lula at Climate Summit: "Brazil is not afraid to discuss the energy transition,"

During the thematic session held on Friday, November 7, the President of Brazil underscored the nation’s leadership in the use of renewable energy and outlined key commitments to advance the energy transition

By Rafaela Ferreira/COP30

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reaffirmed Brazil’s leadership in renewable energy efforts during the second thematic session of the Belém Climate Summit, held on Friday, November 7. “Brazil is not afraid to engage in dialogue on the energy transition. We have been leaders in this field for decades. As early as the 1970s, we were the first country to invest at scale in renewable alternatives. Today, 90% of our national electricity mix is derived from clean sources,” stated the President.

According to the Brazilian President, in the first half of 2025, renewable sources became the leading form of electricity generation worldwide, surpassing coal. President Lula also reaffirmed Brazil’s pioneering role in the development of flex-fuel engines and emphasized the country’s position as the world’s second-largest producer of biofuels.

“Our gasoline contains 30% ethanol, and our diesel includes 15% biodiesel. Ethanol is an effective and immediately available alternative for adoption in the most challenging sectors, such as industry and transportation,” the President emphasized while addressing sustainable solutions.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted that global investment in clean energy has reached $2 trillion—$800 billion more than investments in fossil fuels. He further highlighted that renewable energy is now the most affordable source of new electricity in nearly every country.

“Renewable energy is driving prosperity and empowering communities that have long lacked access to electricity. Every dollar invested in renewables generates three times more jobs than a dollar invested in fossil fuels—and clean energy jobs have already surpassed fossil fuel employment worldwide. The renewable energy revolution has arrived,” stated Secretary-General António Guterres during the Summit.

Belém 4X

Also presented during the Summit was the Belém Commitment for Sustainable Fuels—known as “Belém 4X”. Originally launched at the Pre-COP on October 14, the initiative aims to foster international cooperation to at least quadruple the use of sustainable fuels by 2035, through the implementation of existing or announced policies.

To date, the commitment has been endorsed by 19 countries: Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Panama, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Sudan, and Zambia. The diversity and broad geographic distribution of the endorsing countries underscore the global relevance of sustainable fuels in advancing the energy transition and addressing climate change across all regions. The initiative, co-sponsored by Brazil, Italy, and Japan, remains open to additional signatories.

Ambassador Mauricio Lyrio, Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and head of the Brazilian negotiating delegation, expressed satisfaction with the number of endorsements received so far for the Belém Commitment on Sustainable Fuels – Belém 4x. “Commitments like this gain traction over time,” he stated.

“That is why 19 endorsements so far represent an excellent result. And the variety, above all, is a testament that we are on the right track and that the cause resonates around the world: the group that has already formally supported the ‘Belém 4x’ commitment includes rich and developing countries, small and large, from all over the planet. It is, fortunately, a diverse group of countries,” said the ambassador.

Energy Poverty

According to a United Nations report, around 2 billion people still lack access to adequate cooking fuels—a figure recalled by Lula during the thematic session. For the President, unless the injustices of external debt are addressed and the conditionalities that discriminate against developing countries are abandoned, society will continue “going in circles.”

“An estimated 660 million people still rely on kerosene lamps or diesel generators in the outskirts of major cities and in rural communities across Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Moreover, 200 million children attend schools without access to electricity,” the President emphasized.

President Lula affirmed that a just, orderly, and equitable energy transition requires ensuring access to technology and financing for countries of the Global South.

Commitments

During his address, the President outlined three core commitments to accelerate the energy transition. The first is the implementation of the Dubai Agreement, which calls for tripling renewable energy generation and doubling energy efficiency by 2030. President Lula also proposed placing the eradication of energy poverty at the heart of the global debate, including targets for clean cooking and universal access to electricity in national climate plans. Finally, he underscored the importance of joining the Belém Commitment for Sustainable Fuels.

“At this COP, negotiators must seek consensus. And we, as leaders, must decide whether the 21st century will be remembered as the century of climate catastrophe or as the moment of intelligent reconstruction,” Lula concluded.

The issue was also addressed by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who stressed the need to align laws, policies, and incentives with a just energy transition and to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. He emphasized the importance of placing people and equity at the center of the transition: “Supporting workers and communities whose livelihoods still depend on coal, oil, and gas.”

Translation: Michel Emmanuel Félix François (POET/UFC)
Proofreading: Tadeu Azevedo (POET/UFC)