Ambassador Extraordinary for Climate Change

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Ambassador Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado as Ambassador Extraordinary for Climate Change. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs in President Dilma Rousseff's government, Ambassador Figueiredo will complement Brazil's high-level representation in international events, as well as contribute to the dissemination of Brazil's engagement in the fight against climate change, including in the context of the country's candidacy to host the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP 30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held in 2025. The re-established position of Ambassador Extraordinary for Climate Change was held between 2007 and 2010 by Ambassador Sergio Barbosa Serra.

A career diplomat since 1980, Ambassador Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado has served as Brazil's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Brazilian Ambassador to Qatar, Portugal and the United States. In his extensive career in climate change, he has held the positions of Chief of the Division of Environmental Policy and Sustainable Development (2002-2004), Director of the Department of Environment and Special Themes (2005-2011), and Under-Secretary-General for Environment, Energy, Science and Technology (2011-2013).

In view of the renewed priority of the climate agenda in Brazilian foreign policy, the new organizational structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, determined by Decree 11.357, of January 1, 2023, established the Secretariat of Climate, Energy and Environment (SECLIMA), under which a new Department dedicated to climate change was incorporated. Responsible for formulating and coordinating Brazil's positions and international negotiations on climate change, SECLIMA has Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago as Secretary-designate. Minister Liliam Beatris Chagas de Moura will be the Director of the Climate Department.