Speech by President Lula at the opening of the Special High-Level Event on Climate Action

COP30 is less than 50 days away from this meeting.

It is time to ask whether the world will arrive in Belém having done its homework.

The Paris Agreement gave countries the freedom to set emission reduction targets that are consistent with their realities and capacities.

However, presenting Nationally Determined Contributions is not optional.

As the International Court of Justice has made clear, it is an obligation.

In a world where serious violations have become commonplace, failing to present a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) may seem a lesser evil — but without the full set of NDCs, the planet is navigating in the dark.

Only with the complete picture can we know where we are headed and at what pace.

Today, the countries gathered here are fulfilling their duty, but others have not yet done so.

The denialism we are facing is not just about climate: it is also multilateral.

No one is safe from the effects of climate change.

Border walls will not contain droughts or storms.

Nature does not yield to bombs or warships.

No country is above any other.

The risk of unilateralism lies in the chain reaction it triggers.

Each broken commitment invites new isolated actions.

The result is a vicious cycle of distrust and paralysis.

We need to rescue the conviction in collective mobilization.

If it were not for the Paris Agreement, we would be well on our way to raising the Earth’s average temperature by four degrees.

If we were capable of protecting the ozone layer, we can also stop global warming.

Fatalism is the worst enemy of action.

The energy transition opens the way to a productive and technological transformation that is comparable to the Industrial Revolution.

Nationally Determined Contributions are the map of the path that will guide each country in this change.

They are not mere numbers or percentages.

They are an opportunity to rethink models and reorient policies and investments towards a new economic paradigm.

For this to occur on a global scale, rich nations must anticipate their climate neutrality goals, and expand access to resources and technologies to developing countries.

The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities remains current.

Brazil was the second country to present its new NDC.

We are committed to reducing emissions of all greenhouse gases between 59% and 67%, covering all sectors of the economy.

Our goal of zeroing deforestation by 2030 will contribute to achieving this goal.

By hosting the COP in the Amazon, Brazil wants to show that it is impossible to preserve nature without taking care of people.

It is impossible to revolutionize our relationship with the planet without engaging a wide range of stakeholders.

To this end, we promoted the Global Ethical Stocktake with six regional dialogues that included representatives from civil society, the private sector, indigenous peoples and traditional communities, scientists, artists, religious leaders and local authorities.

The voice of the people must reach heads of State and Government.

We want to promote a Leaders' Summit that provides a frank and direct dialogue, and that is adequate for the mission that our societies have entrusted to us.

We have the chance to repair injustices and build a prosperous and sustainable future for all.

Therefore, I appeal to countries that have not yet presented NDCs: the success of the Belém COP30 depends on you.

Let us together make the Amazon the stage of a decisive moment in the history of multilateralism.

I have been saying that COP30 is the COP of truth. This COP will have to say whether or not we believe in what science is showing us. Whether or not we, leaders and heads of state, trust science, we will have to make a decision. If we do not make a decision, society will stop believing in its leaders — and, instead of us strengthening the fight against global warming, we will help discredit politics, multilateralism and democracy. We will all lose, because denialism may win. Therefore, the ball is in the Belém COP30 court —and I hope to count on all of you.

Thank you very much.