Brazil highlights commitment to 30 x 30 Goal and defends forest protection

The Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sônia Guajajara, reinforced on Saturday (9/12) Brazil's commitment to the international goal of helping the planet transform 30% of the world's lands, seas and fresh waters into protected areas, the so-called 30 x 30 Goal.

To achieve the 30x30 goal, we need to talk about indigenous territories and rights. I'm happy to see that this panel has already mentioned the importance and protagonism of indigenous peoples as the great guardians, because 80% of biodiversity is in indigenous territories"

Sônia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples

"Brazil is committed to achieving 30% of protected biodiversity by 2030. It is committed to strengthening the Convention on Biodiversity and making this relation with the Climate COP. Without the protection of biodiversity, we would not be able to limit the increase in global temperature to one and a half degrees," affirmed the Brazilian representative, during the High-Level Ministerial Meeting at the United Nations Climate Change Conference - COP 28, in Dubai.

"It's important to realize that we indigenous peoples are gradually beginning to be understood and recognized in the world and at conventions. One example is my participation here. Brazil has been trying to advance in the fulfillment of the 30/30 goal and one of the great concrete measures was the creation of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples. We are here with the largest indigenous delegation from Brazil ever present at all the COPs," continued Guajajara.

GUARDIANS - At COP 28, Sônia Guajajara has reinforced the role that indigenous peoples play in global efforts to combat climate change.  "To achieve the 30x30 goal, we need to talk about indigenous territories and rights. I'm happy to see that this panel has already cited the importance and protagonism of indigenous peoples as great guardians, because 80% of biodiversity is in indigenous territories," she emphasized.

"So we need to make the world and the great leaders move forward with the instruments of demarcation and guaranteeing full ownership of the territories to the peoples, as well as practices to strengthen the way of life and the economy integrated with nature. As well as guaranteeing the territory, we have to guarantee the way of life, as a means of confronting illegal mining, deforestation and all the exploitation that causes the destruction of nature," affirmed the minister, who called for special attention to the Amazon biome.

"The Amazon Rainforest involves eight South American countries, is practically the size of the entire Middle East and is close to the point of no return. We need to guarantee its preservation as a matter of urgency," concluded the Brazilian minister.

URGENCY - The Minister of Indigenous Peoples also signaled that climate change requires a sense of urgency that no longer allows discussions to pass from year to year without effective measures being taken. "We have already realized that 28 Climate Conferences were not enough to reduce emissions," recalled.

According to the representative of the Brazilian government, it is necessary that the debates around forests do not only focus on the issue of carbon, but also consider other equally determinant points relating to the biome. "It's very important, in addition to thinking about reducing carbon emissions and seeing forests as carbon, to also think about restoring areas that have already been degraded and the conditions, structures, support and financing to protect biodiversity, with all the cultural diversity and people who protect this planet and who are today fighting to save Mother Earth," she continued.