President Lula’s speech at the Virtual Climate Ambition Summit - 04/23/2025

I greet the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and all my fellow heads of state and government who accepted our invitation to this Summit.

Our meeting takes place at a particularly sad time, due to the death of Pope Francisco.

I am sure that his teachings on the need for an 'integral ecology', which sees nature and humanity as a whole, will serve as an inspiration for us.

With less than seven months until COP30, which Brazil will host in Belém do Pará, the planet seems to be entering uncharted territory for science.

Global warming is taking place at a faster rate than predicted.

In 2024, the Earth's average temperature surpassed for the first time the critical threshold of one and a half degrees above pre-industrial levels.

Many ecosystems, such as forests, glaciers, and seas, are at risk of reaching a point of no return.

The Amazon has recorded the worst drought in its history and the extreme heat has caused massive coral bleaching in the ocean.

Denying the climate crisis will not make it disappear.

We must ensure that multilateralism and international cooperation remain the cornerstone of the global response to climate change.

Despite the attacks on the Paris Agreement, it is thanks to it that we have reversed the most pessimistic projections of temperature rise, which predicted an increase of four degrees by the end of the century.

In Brazil, when we want to mobilize efforts toward a common goal, we use an indigenous word called "mutirão."

We want to make COP30 a great "mutirão" in favor of the implementation of climate commitments.

Wars, arms races, and interruptions in development aid and climate financing are pushing us backward.

The planet is already tired of unfulfilled promises.

This year, all countries must present their new Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with carbon emissions reduction targets by 2035.

Brazil presented its NDC at the Baku COP. We aim for a reduction of 59 to 67% in emissions, covering all greenhouse gases and all sectors of the economy.

Internally, we are developing a Climate Plan that will include strategies for mitigation, adaptation, and climate justice.

We cannot talk about a just transition without incorporating the perspectives of historically marginalized groups—such as women, Black people, and Indigenous peoples—and without taking into account the specific circumstances of the Global South.

The architecture for preparing the NDCs is flexible enough to combine ambitious goals with the development needs of each state.

Wealthy countries – which have been the biggest beneficiaries of a carbon-based economy – must live up to their responsibilities.

It is in their hands to bring forward climate neutrality targets and increase financing to the goal of one trillion and three hundred billion dollars.

I make a special call for support to four initiatives that should pave our way to Belém in the coming months.

The first of these is an effort we call the Global Ethical Balance. Brazil and the UN will bring together youth and religious leaders, artists, indigenous peoples, scientists, and decision-makers around a new pact with the planet.

The second is the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. Together with FAO, we have developed a guide for the inclusion of social policies and food systems transformation in the NDCs.

The third is the Global Initiative for the Integrity of Climate Change Information, in partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which aims to value science and combat disinformation.

Finally, we have the Tropical Forests Forever Fund, to be launched at COP30, which will reward developing countries that preserve their forests.

This summit represents the beginning of a broad movement towards COP 30.

In the year we celebrate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, I invite everyone to an open, frank, and genuine dialogue about what needs to be done to advance the fight against climate change.

Thank you very much.