350.org on Lula’s speech at UNGA: Climate leadership with caveats

At the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he is committed to presenting the Brazilian national roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, while still advocating for the expansion of oil exploration in the country.

350.org welcomes the continuous climate leadership from Brazil in the TAFF process, while flagging the stark contradiction of those plans with the continuous oil expansion in the country. Campaigners emphasize new oil, gas and coal needs to stop immediately – not later. President Lula is well placed to be a genuine climate leader on the national and world stages, but he needs to close the gap between what Brazil says and what it does.

João Cerqueira, 350.org Brazil Lead said:

“As one of the world’s biggest emerging economies, Brazil’s response to the climate and energy crises matters. At COP30, Brazil has shown that it can lead efforts by nations to transition away from fossil fuels, the culprit behind rising bills and deadly disasters. Rather than succumbing to the narrative that fossil fuels can buy us independence, Brazil must send a clear message to world leaders: true security rests on a renewables-powered future – not endless reliance on volatile, planet-heating fossil fuels. Ahead of COP31, we are keen to see Brazil publish its own roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, which is now the only credible path towards stability and prosperity for all.”