President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva highlighted, this Saturday (25), in Malaysia, that the Brazilian government will officially launch a new international model of climate financing for the conservation of the planet’s natural resources, during the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), which will begin on November 10, in Belém.
“The Tropical Forests Forever Fund, which we will launch at COP30, will remunerate the ecosystem services provided to the planet. Universities will continue to play a decisive role in tackling the climate crisis. Their warnings about the environmental risks that threaten the planet must be heard urgently, he said.”
The federal government’s initiative was highlighted by Lula as an alternative to the lack of resources for a fair and planned energy transition, after a decade of the Paris Agreement. The international treaty, adopted in 2015, aims to combat climate change and its impacts.
“In the search for unlimited profits, many forget to take care of planet Earth. Climate change could push 132 million more people into extreme poverty by 2030. A decade after the Paris Agreement, there is a lack of resources for a fair and planned transition. Above all, there is no time to correct course.”
THE declaration was given during the ceremony awarding the title of Honorary Doctorate in International Development and the Global South, granted by the National University of Malaysia.
Climate finance
The Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) provides remuneration to countries that guarantee the conservation of tropical forests. In September, in New York (USA), the president announced the Brazilian investment of US$ 1 billion in this fund.
In total, more than 70 developing countries with tropical forests will be able to receive resources from this mechanism proposed by Brazil.
Truth COP and NDCs
About 15 days before the first conference on climate change in the Amazon biome is held, the Brazilian president once again called COP30 the “COP of truth” and reinforced Brazil’s commitment to combating climate change. “It will be time to overcome extractive greed and act based on science.”
In his speech at the National University of Malaysia, Lula criticized the fact that less than 70 countries have presented new targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). He demanded greater involvement in combating climate change. “Among the biggest polluters, only 14 countries did their homework.”
Point of no return
The goal established in 2015 of limiting global warming to above pre-industrial levels is the crucial point to be debated during COP30 in Brazil.
However, President Lula understands that exceeding this limit is inevitable. “The data is alarming. Everything indicates that, even if the current NDCs are met, the planet will exceed the 1.5°C limit of temperature increase.”
Lula urges the world to avoid the increase, because science confirms that the planet’s ecosystems can be irreversibly transformed. The term used to define the situation is the point of no return.
“Researchers have pointed out that the widespread mortality of warm-water coral reefs may be the first point of no return surpassed by humanity. [A destruição das] Tropical forests are a point of no return that we must avoid at all costs.”
Lula ended his speech by highlighting that 30 million people live in the Brazilian Amazon who have the right to live with dignity.
Agenda in Malaysia
President Lula remains in Malaysia until Tuesday (28). He will participate in a meeting with businesspeople from the country and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
This Sunday (26), he may meet with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to seek a solution to the issue of tariffs on Brazilian products imported by North American businessmen.
