Lula says the world cannot just ask Brazil to keep the forest standing

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) said today, the 2nd, on the eve of the United Nations Climate Conference (COP30), that the world is turning its attention to the Amazon, but needs to make its contribution.

“We are forcing the world to look at the Amazon with the eyes it should look at the Amazon. It’s not just asking us to keep the forest standing. We need to provide economic, educational and health support for the people who take care of this standing forest”, he said, during a visit to the Jamaraquá Community, in the Tapajós National Forest.

Lula defended that it is an “obligation” to provide conditions for people who live in the region. “The COP is this extraordinary moment in which the world will not only get to know the Amazon, but will get to know the people of the Amazon to see what a wonderful people, what an extraordinary people”, he added.

Bioeconomy

Afterwards, the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, defended the bioeconomy, extractivism and crafts in the region as alternatives to the exploitation of the region’s natural resources. Marina recalled the commitment made by the government to eliminate deforestation by 2030. “We have already reduced, in two years, deforestation by 50% in the Amazon, 32% in the entire country. Fires have so far reduced by 50% in the entire country, more than 80% in the Amazon, 90% in the Pantanal, 48% in the Cerrado”.

Marina ended by thanking Lula for the third time as Minister of the Environment. “I started, the two of us together, I was 45 years old, now I’m 67 years old. And I have the joy of seeing that all the seeds that you planted, that you committed to Chico Mendes when he was still alive, you are now harvesting and planting more seeds”, he praised.

In her view, COP30 is the place for the government to say that Brazil will do its part by slowing down deforestation. “And the world needs to do its part by reducing carbon, oil and gas emissions.”

Finally, she argued that she “likes” it when Lula says it is necessary to move away from dependence on the use of fossil fuels. “It’s not easy, but God willing, we will map out the path.”