🔗 Share this article

Today, in the Brazilian Amazon, the Belém summit opens ahead of the UN's 30th climate summit (Cop30). Leaders have been gathered by me world leaders during the period before the conference to ensure collective dedication to taking swift measures with the necessary speed that the environmental emergency requires.

If we fail to move beyond speeches into real action, our societies will lose faith – not just in climate conferences, but in multilateralism and international politics more broadly. This is the reason for convening officials to the rainforest: to make this the “Cop of truth”, the occasion where we prove the seriousness of our shared commitment toward Earth.

People have demonstrated their capacity to overcome great challenges through united efforts and scientific guidance. We protected the ozone layer. Worldwide actions during the Covid-19 crisis proved that the world can act decisively when there is courage and political will.

Brazil hosted the Earth Summit in 1992. We approved the conventions on climate, biodiversity and desertification, and principles were embraced that established a fresh model for protecting our planet and our humanity. Over the past 33 years, these gatherings have produced important agreements and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions – including halting deforestation by 2030 to increasing renewable energy threefold.

More than three decades later, global attention returns to Brazil to address the climate issue. There's a reason why Cop30 is being held in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This is an opportunity for politicians, diplomats, scientists, activists and journalists to observe the Amazon's actual conditions. Our aim is for global observation of the forests' real status, Earth's biggest river system, and the numerous inhabitants of the area. Cops cannot be mere showcases of good ideas or yearly meetings for delegates. They should serve as encounters with actuality and opportunities for real steps against environmental shifts.

To confront this crisis together, financial support is essential. It's crucial to acknowledge that the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities stays as the fixed basis for all climate agreements. That is why the global south demands greater access to resources – not out of charity, but justice. Wealthy nations have gained the most from the carbon-based economy. They should now fulfill their obligations, not just through pledges but by repaying what they owe.

Brazil is doing its part. Within just two years, we have already halved deforestation in the Amazon, demonstrating that real environmental measures can work.

At Belém, we are introducing an innovative initiative to preserve forests: the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF). It is innovative because it operates as an investment fund, rather than a charity system. The TFFF will reward those who keep their forests standing and contributors to the fund. A true mutually beneficial strategy for addressing environmental issues. Leading by example, Brazil has announced an investment of $1bn in the TFFF, and we expect equally ambitious announcements from other nations.

We also demonstrated leadership through being the second nation to submit a fresh NDC. Brazil has vowed to cut its emissions by 59% to 67%, covering all greenhouse gases and every economic area. In this spirit, we urge all nations to propose similarly bold NDCs and to execute them thoroughly.

Shifting energy sources is crucial to meeting Brazil’s NDC. Our energy matrix is among the cleanest in the world, with 88% of our electricity coming from renewable sources. We are a leader in biofuels and are progressing in wind, solar, and green hydrogen.

Channeling oil earnings to fund a fair, structured energy shift is vital. In the long run, global petroleum firms, including Brazil’s Petrobras, will evolve into energy providers, because a growth model based on fossil fuels cannot last.

Individuals should be the focus of political decisions about climate and the shift to clean energy. We must recognise that the most vulnerable sectors of our society are the most affected by the impacts of climate change, which is why just transition and adaptation plans should target reducing disparities.

We cannot forget that two billion individuals have no access to clean technologies and fuels for cooking, and over 673 million face hunger. To address this, we will launch in Belém a statement on hunger, poverty, and climate. Our pledge to combat climate change should be closely tied to the fight against hunger.

It is equally essential that we push for changes in international governance. Currently, multilateralism suffers from the paralysis within the UN Security Council. Created to preserve peace, it has not stopped conflicts. It is our duty, therefore to advocate for reforming this body. During Cop30, we will push for the creation of a UN climate change council connected to the General Assembly. This would form a fresh governance framework with the power and credibility to ensure that countries deliver on their promises, and a practical move towards overcoming the present deadlock of the multilateral system.

During each environmental summit, numerous commitments are made but see too few real commitments. The era of declarations of good intentions has ended: the moment for implementation plans is here. This is why we commence today the "truthful Cop".