Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opens the Belém summit with a call to make Cop30 the “Cop of truth,”. The Brazilian president was insisting that climate diplomacy must move from speeches to real action. Lula warns that if leaders fail to deliver tangible results, global trust in multilateralism will erode.
He argues that humanity can act decisively when united by science, citing the ozone layer protection effort and global responses to Covid-19. More than 30 years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the world returns to Brazil to confront climate change in the Amazon itself. Lula says Cop30 must expose the true state of the rainforest and ensure that political decisions reflect reality, not rhetoric.
He stresses that meaningful climate action requires resources and fairness. The global south, he says, demands access to financing as a matter of justice, since wealthy nations drove the carbon-intensive model and must now honor their responsibilities. Lula highlights Brazil’s progress, including halving Amazon deforestation in two years.
Brazil’s Commitments
In Belém, Brazil will launch the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, an investment-fund model designed to reward countries that preserve forests. Brazil has pledged $1 billion and expects other nations to match this ambition.
Lula also outlines Brazil’s new, more ambitious climate pledge, raising emission-reduction commitments from 59% to 67%. He underscores the country’s clean energy matrix, an 88% renewable power and says oil revenues must gradually finance a just, equitable energy transition.
Da Silva emphasizes that climate policy must put people first. Lula links climate action to reducing inequality, hunger, and energy poverty, noting billions lack clean cooking technologies and millions still face hunger. Belém will therefore produce a declaration tying climate action to social justice.
Finally, Lula calls for global governance reform, criticizing the paralysis of the UN Security Council and proposing a new UN climate change council empowered to ensure that nations fulfill their promises. He concludes that the era of vague commitments is over, and Cop30 must deliver concrete action plans.
Reference
Da Silva, L. (2025, November 6). The era of fine speeches and good intentions is over. Brazil’s Cop30 will be about action. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/nov/06/brazil-cop-30-truth-world-leaders-climate-crisis-president-lula