Lula calls for stronger greenhouse gas reductions and emphasizes broad social participation at COP30

In Belém, the President presented an overview of the event’s negotiations, accompanied by the President of the Conference, André Corrêa do Lago, and Minister Marina Silva

By the Office of the President of the Republic

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva presented on Wednesday, 19 November, an overview of the negotiations of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), held in Belém, capital of the state of Pará. On the occasion, Lula stressed that global leaders must assume targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Conference, which began on 10 November, will continue until Friday, 21 November.

“ Everyone must understand their responsibility. That is why we introduced the Roadmap. We must show society that we are serious—without imposing anything on anyone, without setting deadlines. Each country has the sovereignty to determine what it can do within its timeframe and capacities, but we must show seriousness. We must reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Lula emphasized. The Roadmap is a Brazilian proposal at COP30 that sets out action plans and concrete targets for reducing the global use of fossil fuels.

Lula addressed the challenge of bringing the Conference to a city that does not usually host major international events. “It was very important for us to show the Amazon as it truly is, and to embed it in the minds of people around the world,” he explained. “ I am certain that people now know that there is not only the city of Bethlehem where Jesus was born, but also Belém do Pará—the Belém of the Brazilian people, a people extraordinarily warm, welcoming, and generous, with whom you have certainly engaged,” he added.

THE PEOPLE’S COP — The President also emphasized that COP30 stood out from previous conferences due to its broad participation across different sectors of society. “ Everyone has a role in society. This COP reflected that, which is why it was held in Belém. This can be called the first People’s COP of the entire world, because people from around the globe came here to express themselves,” he stated.

DIALOGUES — During an overview presentation, the President of the Conference, André Corrêa do Lago, summarized the day’s agenda: “ it was a very good day. Today, we held meetings with several negotiating groups and discussed some of the most complex themes in the negotiations—adaptation, financing, and the Roadmap itself. We, therefore, met with various negotiating groups, as well as civil society, the private sector, and subnational governments, discussing the vast economic implications of COP30 and the increasing recognition of the impacts and consequences of climate action. ” Corrêa do Lago reported.

FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION TO THE TFFF — Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, highlighted progress in the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), launched by Brazil. “ We were delighted to receive Germany’s announcement of its contribution. This contribution, amounting to approximately 1 billion euros for the TFFF, is the result of ongoing efforts and demonstrates that this global financing instrument is very well designed, very well structured, and is beginning to deliver results,” she stated.

The TFFF establishes a new model for climate financing: countries that preserve tropical forests will be financially compensated through a global investment fund. Investors, in turn, recover the resources invested, with returns aligned with average market rates. In practice, the fund creates a new economy based on conservation, transforming standing forests into a source of social and economic development.

See other highlights from President Lula’s address in Belém:

PLURAL PARTICIPATION — The participation of the people was extraordinarily meaningful, orderly, and all groups submitted their documents to us. I am very pleased because, for the first time in the history of the COPs, 3,500 Indigenous participants took part. And because women are not treated as an afterthought at this COP. Women must be addressed as a gender issue and must be treated with respect in their full participation, because women are not second-class citizens. It is essential that we, as leaders, learn this. The minimum collaboration we can offer is to pursue innovation, innovation in our behavior, in our vision of a new society, and in our understanding of what it means to be human on this planet.

COMMITMENT — All leaders around the world must understand that caring for the climate is caring for the preservation and continued existence of planet Earth, because we have not yet found another place where we can survive. Caring for the climate requires recognizing that wealthy countries need to support poorer countries, and that financial resources must be provided so that those who maintain standing forests can keep them standing, and so people can understand that preserving the forest yields greater benefit than cutting it down. Maintaining clean water is a commitment to keeping the planet functioning. This is not an abstract concept.

DIVERSE ENERGY MATRIX — If fossil fuels are a major source of emissions, then we must begin to consider how to live without fossil fuels and how to design such a future. And I say this with conviction, because I am from a country that produces oil. But I am also from a country that uses the highest proportion of ethanol blended with gasoline. I am from a country that produces significant amounts of biodiesel, and our biodiesel already contains a fifteen percent blend. I am from a country in which eighty seven percent of its electricity is clean, and I want all countries to achieve this.

SUPPORT — For this to happen, poorer countries must receive support from wealthier ones. Wealthy countries can support Africa’s energy transition, the production of biofuels, and the expansion of wind and solar power. This is not only about providing limited financial resources, but about transferring technology and knowledge. It is about helping countries take a leap in quality.

SEEKING CONSENSUS — I believe that my negotiating team will achieve the best possible outcomes. We will be able to build understanding, because at a COP nothing is imposed. Everything must be achieved through consensus; everything must be thoroughly discussed. And we respect the political, ideological, territorial, and cultural sovereignty of every country. We do not seek to impose anything. We seek only to say: it is possible. And if it is possible, let us build it together. For this reason, I am satisfied.