Lula stresses Japan’s role in COP30 during meeting with Emperor Naruhito

In the year that the countries celebrate 130 years of diplomatic relations, Lula is visiting Japan with several items on the agenda, including sustainable development and COP30. The Asian nation is one of the countries that have already submitted their NDCs

With information from the Planalto Palace

Peace, Democracy, Multilateralism, and Sustainable Development—these were the key themes Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized during a dinner hosted by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on March 25. The event, held as part of Lula’s state visit to Japan, underscored the shared values between the two nations.

The nations will celebrate the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025. This visit is Japan’s first state reception since 2019, as the country typically hosts only one such visit per year—a tradition paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Relations between Brasil and Japan were elevated to the status of Global Strategic Partnership in 2014, during a visit to Brasil by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

During the dinner, in addition to discussing bilateral cooperation issues, President Lula took the opportunity to reiterate the importance of international commitment to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), with an emphasis on Japan's role in the event.

"As the country with the world's largest rainforest and freshwater reserve, Brasil is committed to a model of sustainability based on social inclusion. We are counting on Japan's firm commitment at COP30 in Belém do Pará," Lula stated.

The president made this appeal while recalling a speech by Emperor Naruhito, in his capacity as Crown Prince, when he was in Brasilia in 2018. On that occasion, he called on the international community to prioritize sustainable water and sanitation.

Japan-Brasil Dialogue reinforces climate urgency

Prior to Lula’s arrival, Tokyo hosted the 23rd Informal Meeting on Further Action on Climate Change, known as the Japan-Brasil Dialogue, on March 13-14. Representatives from more than 30 countries discussed the outcomes of COP29, held last year in Baku, Azerbaijan, and key issues for COP30, ranging from finance to adaptation and accelerating global climate action.

Ambassador Liliam Chagas, who gathered the agenda, said that although it was an informal meeting, participants stressed the importance of climate finance being public and through concessions, without loans, pointed to the need to promote public-private investment, and discussed alternatives for minimum financial allocations for small countries.

Japanese NDCs

Among the 193 countries that signed the Paris Agreement, only 19 have already submitted their new climate targets, the Nationally Determined Contributions 3.0 (NDCs). Japan is one of the countries that has submitted its commitments.

These targets represent the third round of contributions by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Japan has set a target to reduce its GHG emissions by 60% in the fiscal year 2035 and 73% in the fiscal year 2040 from 2013 levels, an ambitious target in line with the global 1.5°C goal and on a direct path to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

English version: Trad. Bárbara Menezes
Proofreading: Enrique Villamil