247 - During the opening of the COP30 General Plenary, held this Thursday (6) in Belém (PA), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) gave a forceful speech in defense of the Amazon and the strengthening of global multilateralism. Before heads of state and international leaders, Lula highlighted that “the eyes of the world are turned to Belém with immense expectation”, emphasizing the symbolism of the conference taking place, for the first time, “in the heart of the Amazon”.
According to the official statement published by the Planalto Palace, the president stated that the return of the Climate Convention to the country—more than 30 years after the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro—represents a moment of renewal and shared responsibility. “Thousands of species of plants and animals live here, making up the most diverse biome on Earth. Millions of people and hundreds of indigenous groups reside here, whose lives are traversed by the false dilemma between prosperity and preservation,” he declared.
Lula also highlighted the role of the Amazonian peoples in environmental protection and demanded concrete actions from developed nations to preserve the planet."It is only right that it is the turn of the Amazonians to ask what the rest of the world is doing to prevent the collapse of their home," he stated, in a critical tone.
The president recalled that 2025 marks a decade since the Paris Agreement and assessed that the pact “has become a mirror of the greatest qualities and limitations of multilateral action.” He emphasized that the agreement was fundamental in averting alarming predictions of an increase of up to five degrees in the average global temperature by the end of the century, stressing that “collective mobilization generates results.”
Despite the progress, Lula warned that the climate regime faces political and economic challenges."The climate regime is not immune to the zero-sum logic that has prevailed in the international order. In a scenario of insecurity and mutual distrust, immediate selfish interests prevail over the long-term common good," he criticized.
The Belém Climate Summit, known as COP30, brings together representatives from nearly 200 countries to discuss solutions for mitigating, financing, and adapting to climate change. The event marks the first time a global UN conference on the subject has taken place in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, reinforcing Brazil's role as a protagonist in environmental and diplomatic discussions.
