As negotiations reach a decisive point at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), The president of the event, André Corrêa do Lago, called on countries this Friday morning (21) to reach a consensus for the common good of the planet.
Corrêa do Lago said that the moment is one of international cooperation and that countries should not think of the results of the COP in terms of victory or defeat.
“We know how many obstacles there are to putting words into practice and how very difficult it is to reach consensus. But we can never forget that the same consensus that sometimes exasperates us — analysts, delegates, so many people — strengthens this regime. We have to show that this is the COP in which consensus is strength”, said the ambassador.
“We cannot divide ourselves in the context of the Paris Agreement. Here we have the perception of division that comes from several convention negotiators. We tried to reduce this notion of division during this negotiation, with transparency and true solutions that come from the delegations”, he added.
>> Click here and follow Agência Brasil’s complete coverage of COP30
For the ambassador, at least three objectives considered central to the Brazilian presidency will be achieved: strengthening multilateralism; connect COP debates to people’s lives; and accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement (which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to 1.5ºC).
The president of COP30 also highlighted that holding the event in Belém, in the Amazon, was essential for the message of preserving the biome.
“By organizing this COP in the Amazon, President Lula wanted the world to see not only the strong beauty of this incredible biome, but also the challenges that we have to face”, said Corrêa do Lago.
“I believe we have changed the perception of the relationship between nature and climate. Thank you for the moments you all spent here and for your sensitivity towards our forests, which is something that not everyone instinctively understands that needs to be protected”, he added.
Fire
During the opening of the informal plenary in the South Zone, the official space where COP30 takes place, the ambassador also recalled the fire that destroyed part of the pavilions this Thursday (20).
He said that, despite all the negative aspects of what happened, there was a demonstration of collective support, which could be taken to the negotiating table for the event’s final charter.
“We are here together after the fire. It was quickly controlled and contained. It reminded us of our shared vulnerability and how we instinctively act together in times of crisis. I would like to thank everyone for their professionalism and solidarity. We received many messages of support. Many of them were really very strong, friendly and sensitive”, said Corrêa do Lago.
