The president said the country would participate as an observer in the group of oil exporting countries to “give an opinion” on decisions.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said that Brazil will never be an effective member of OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries). He explained that there is no contradiction between defending the environment and observing the group in OPEC+.
The head of the executive branch ended his participation in the COP28 (28th United Nations Conference on Climate Change), which took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“Brazil will never be an effective member of OPEC because we don’t want it,” the president said. Lula declared that Brazil should join just because the name was “fancy”: “Opep Plus,” he emphasized the name to journalists.
“The observer listens and forms an opinion. Why is Brazil’s participation important? Brazil is an observer of the G7. […] We invite observers to Mercosur. We invite observers to the G20. We invite observers to the BRICS. The people who leave can often do it, but they have no decisionmaking power,” he explained.
Lula said the need to reduce the use of fossil fuels is right, but there must be an “alternative.”
“Before you end up with sectarianism, you have to give humanity the opportunity. “Through our participation in OPEC Plus, we are discussing with OPEC the need for countries that have oil and are rich to start investing some of their money to help poor countries on the African continent, Latin America and Asia help,” he explained.
The president defended that these countries could finance, for example, ethanol, biodiesel, green hydrogen and solar energy. “That’s our role,” he said. “I think that by participating in these forums we can convince people that some of the resources derived from oil should be invested so that we can phase out oil and create alternatives,” he said.
Lula explained that measures for the environment must be implemented: “Countries often think that the problem is only money. So everything they offer money. It’s not just about money. They also have a responsibility to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
According to Lula, Brazil was represented by the largest delegation among countries and many representatives of social movements. He said he was happy to leave the international event, which has grown “bigger” every year. “No one can discuss the climate issue today without taking into account the existence of our country, our experiences and what will happen in Brazil on this issue of energy transition,” he explained.
The president argued that there is no country in the world that can offer so many clean energy opportunities to the planet. He explained that it is an opportunity for a revolution for the bioeconomy.
Lula explained that he was touched when he spoke about the Amazon because it was the first time that the “forests” said “what they want, how they want and for what they want.” He said he gave the floor to Environment Minister Marina Silva to represent the biome. She worked as a rubber tapper in Acre and could read and write by the age of 16. According to the president, it was a “gesture of recognition and a sign that Brazil takes this issue very seriously.”
ENVIRONMENT
President Lula said the Brazilian government does not want to fight but rather convince people who invest that with advances in genetics and technology it is possible to keep the forest “intact” and have land for planting. He argues that it is possible to produce more with the same number of hectares.
Lula said the government is working to restore 40 million hectares of degraded land. “This is basically what we planted today. Therefore, we will be able to double the production of anything we want without changing any of our biomes,” he explained. The ecological transformation will enable a “constant” source of resources.
For him, the people who have destroyed the planet and emitted more greenhouse gases have an “account for society.”
COP28
Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira announced the end of Lula’s participation in COP28 (28th United Nations Conference on Climate Change) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The international event officially ends on December 12th. According to Vieira, there will still be negotiations with the Brazilian government. He said Lula’s participation represented “Brazil’s return to the world.”
“The return of what was done in the past under his administration [Lula] and President Dilma [Rousseff] “In addition to the government delegation, civil society should also be accredited for the COP discussion,” he explained.
Vieira reiterated that Lula attended the opening event of the COP together with the governments of the United Arab Emirates and England, as well as the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations (United Nations), António Guterres. “This individualization of four speakers shows the important role that Brazil has played and leads by example in all initiatives to combat climate change and protect the environment,” explained the minister.
PARIS LANDMARKS
Vieira said COP28 was an important milestone on the path to the Paris Agreement a treaty with targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He explained that there would be an evaluation at COP30 in Belém (PA) and countries would have to present their contributions.
“Brazil has already announced the modification and review of these targets, which will be increased from 37% to 48% in 2025 and from 50% to 53% by 2030,” the minister explained. “It is important to adequately protect the forest, promote sustainable development, create jobs and, above all, protect the inhabitants of this Amazon biome,” he added.
Lula told representatives of social movements on Saturday (December 2, 2023) and reiterated to journalists that it would not be possible to repeat a COP with as much “luxury and wealth” as the one in Dubai, but that he would hold an event in Belém with “guy from Brazil”.
He explained that if Brazil does not have the “palace” that the United Arab Emirates has for holding meetings, the event could be held under a tree and the meetings would be held in “a canoe on the Igarapé.”
Lula said it could be the biggest COP ever because it will take place in the Amazon. He explained that many people want to discover the richness of the biome.