President Lula at virtual summit with world leaders: “Denying climate crisis will not make it go away”

With a focus on the strategic importance of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will take place in Brazil in November (COP30), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres led the Virtual Summit on Climate Ambition this Wednesday (April 23).

When we want to mobilize efforts toward a common goal, in Brazil we use the indigenous word "mutirão". We want to make COP30 a great "mutirão" in support of the implementation of climate commitments.”

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of the Republic

The meeting was attended by 17 participants at the level of heads of state and government, representing some of the largest economies in the world, including China and the European Union, as well as some of the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Leaders of regional groups were also present, such as the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Associação das Nações do Sudeste Asiático/ASEAN), the Alliance of Small Island States, and the Caribbean Community (Comunidade do Caribe/CARICOM).

Lula called for immediate action from all to prevent the planet from reaching the "point of no return" in mitigating the effects of climate change. The president emphasized that the world is "tired of unfulfilled promises," and invited everyone to join a mutirão towards ambitious climate commitments, in a global mobilization to accelerate a just, inclusive, and sustainable transition.

» Full text of President Lula's speech

"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. When we want to mobilize efforts around a common goal, in Brazil we use the indigenous word mutirão. We want to make COP30 a great mutirão in support of the implementation of the climate commitments," said President Lula.

NDCS — Among the commitments under discussion is updating the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with emission reduction targets set until 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 formulating a Climate Plan that will include strategies for mitigation, adaptation and climate justice. We cannot talk about a just transition without incorporating the perspective of historically marginalized sectors, such as women, blacks and indigenous peoples, and without considering the circumstances of the Global South," said the Brazilian president. So far, around 10% of the members of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change have presented their contributions.

ETHICAL BALANCE — The president also announced the initiative of the Global Ethical Balance, which is part of the partnership with the UN Secretary-General leading up to COP30. "In this regard, as a focus of political mobilization, Brazil and the UN will organize a series of events throughout the year aimed at engaging youth and religious leaders, artists, indigenous peoples, scientists, and decision-makers around a new environmental pact for the planet," explained Minister Mauro Vieira (Foreign Affairs) in a statement to the press after the event.

ALLIANCE AND FUND — Minister Marina Silva (Environment and Climate Change), who also spoke to journalists, observed that President Lula emphasized the importance of the Global Alliance to Fight Hunger and Poverty — launched at the G20 Summit held in Brazil last year — as well as the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (Fundo Floresta Tropical para Sempre), an initiative that Brazil wants to make operational by COP30, aiming to financially reward developing countries that protect their forests.

IMPLEMENTATION — "President Lula also urged that COP30 should be the COP of implementation of the agreements reached so far — especially those stemming from the global balance that preceded the summits in both Dubai and Baku. These include doubling energy efficiency, moving away from fossil fuels, ending deforestation, and ensuring adequate climate financing — all aligned with the mission to keep global temperature rise below 1.5ºC," said Marina Silva.

Developed countries must honor their pledge to double adaptation funding to at least USD 40 billion per year, by this year. And we need significantly larger contributions and innovative sources of financing to support loss and damage response funds"

António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General

TRANSITION — Speaking to the press at the UN headquarters in New York after the event, the Secretary-General emphasized that sustainable investments have become economically more attractive and stressed the need for a gradual phase-out of fossil fuels. António Guterres pointed out that the effects of climate change impact nations differently, impact on the expansion of poverty, in generating unemployment, and rising conflicts. He also observed that more developed countries have a historical responsibility when it comes to financing investments in the energy transition.

EFFECTS — “Those who are least responsible for climate change are suffering its worst effects. Africa and other parts of the developing world are experiencing faster warming, and Pacific islands are seeing sea levels rise more rapidly. Meanwhile, although it holds 60% of the world’s best solar resources, Africa accounts for only about 1.5% of installed solar capacity and receives just 2% of global investment in renewable energy. We need to change this — and fast,” said the UN Secretary-General.

CREDIBLE ROADMAP — To Guterres, world leaders should present at COP30 a credible roadmap to make USD 1.3 trillion per year available for developing countries by 2035. “Developed countries must honor their pledge to double adaptation financing to at least USD 40 billion per year, by this year. And we need significantly greater contributions and innovative funding sources to support loss and damage response funds,” Guterres added.

PREPARATION — The summit on Wednesday was the first of the year with this magnitude. Among the leaders who took part were China’s President Xi Jinping; the President of the European Council António Costa; the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen; the Prime Minister and President of the Spanish Government Pedro Sanchez; and the President of France Emmanuel Macron. Leaders from countries such as Angola, Malaysia, Nigeria, Turkey, Chile, Vietnam, the Marshall Islands, and Tanzania were also present. Other meetings to discuss COP30 and climate commitments are expected to take place before the Conference, which will take place from November 10 to 21 in Belém, in the state of Pará.