Lula calls for new global governance and resources for countries that harbor important nature reserves

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke to the press today (6), in London, during the last moments of his trip to the UK for the coronation of King Charles III. Lula reiterated Brazil’s leading environmental role on the world stage – “The first thing King Charles III said to me is that we have to take care of the Amazon; I replied that we need support” – and called for an adjustment to the UN so as to better reflect international geopolitics. The Brazilian president also stressed his expectations as to the continuation of leaders’ discussions towards world peace.

 To the press, Lula celebrated the meeting he had yesterday with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who announced that the UK is going to invest BRL 500 million in the Amazon Fund.

Lula emphasized Brazil’s clean energy matrix – and defended that the country is among the greatest in the world when it comes to preservation of natural resources. To the president, the climate agenda demands implementation of sustainable and renewable energy sources.

Lula also stated that Brazil is sure to take this discussion to places where it has representation. “We’re going to discuss this at the G20, G7 and BRICS meetings, because this is something that all rich countries want to talk about,” he said.

Beyound mere discussions, though, Lula stressed that commitments must be made to ensure that climate agreements are truly effective.

“If these decisions are based only on the decisions of national states, they won’t be made – because often congresses won’t approve them or businesspeople won’t want them,” he pointed out. Lula once again defended that COP 30 should take place in Belém, capital city of the Brazilian state of Pará, in the Amazon.

PRESERVATION – The president also highlighted that resources are necessary if preservation is to be effective in countries that still harbor great forests. According to Lula, the rich nations that were industrialized 200 years ago must help developing  countries to protect their biodiversity without sacrificing their economies.

“When discussing the preservation of forests, we must also discuss a dignified life for those who live in and around them. We’re capable of creating a green industry that, as well as not polluting, generates resources for development. The climate agenda must be taken very seriously,” said the president.

Lula once again revealed his concern about establishing geopolitics that go beyond the post-war context in which the United Nations were created to include greater representation by Latin American, African and Asian countries. The president also stressed the need to address UN Security Council members’ veto power and other countries’ participation in it — including Brazil’s.

As well as attending the royal ceremony and meeting with Rishi Sunak, the president also held talks with the vice-president of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar, and with the president of France Emmanuel Macron, among other leaders.

UNITED KINGDOM – Lula also mentioned the potential for resuming Brazil’s bilateral trade with the United Kingdom. “We once reached a flow of 8.6 billion dollars, and now we’re down to just over 6 billion,” he said.

To strengthen the relationship between London and Brasília and make it more dynamic, Lula announced the creation of a Working Group including both countries to discuss common interests and business agendas.