Lula criticizes reduced support for the development of poorer countries

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized, on Sunday (8), the reduction of financial assistance from richer countries to support the economic, environmental and social development of poorer countries. According to Lula, in 2024, official development assistance (AOD) fell 7%, while military expenses grew 9.4%.

“This shows that there is no lack of money. What is missing is disposition and political commitment to finance,” Lula said in his participation in the Forum of Economics and Blue Finance in Monaco.

AOD is defined by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as the official help that aims to promote economic and social well-being in developing countries, with the main objective of relieving poverty.

Assistance includes both financing and granting loans, grants and other resources directly by countries or multilateral organisms. It is an important tool for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ocean pollution

Lula is in an official visit to France and, this Sunday, participated in this forum that aims to identify and mobilize solutions to support the so -called Blue Economy – Marine and Coastal Economic Activities – and conserve marine ecosystems. In his speech, the Brazilian recalled that the oceans do not receive “due recognition for what gives us”.

“ODS 14, dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, is one of the goals with the lowest funding of the entire 2030. The deficit for its implementation is estimated at $ 150 billion a year,” he said.

Meanwhile, according to the president, in addition to fulfilling the role of leading climate regulator, the sea traffic more than 80% of international trade and 97% of world data networks, with an annual economic generation of US $ 2.6 trillion. “If it were a country, the ocean would occupy the fifth position among the largest economies in the world,” he said.

New Treaty

According to him, it is necessary to complete the binding instrument to end plastic pollution in the oceans and advance the ratification of the new treaty for biodiversity in international waters. Lula also recalled that the adoption, by the international maritime organization, of binding goals to zero carbon emissions in navigation by 2050 promises to multiply the demand for renewable energy and would reduce global dependence on fossil fuels.

For President Lula, resource insufficiency is a chronic problem of various multilateral initiatives. He cited the United Nations Conference on 2024 Climate Change (COP29) in Baku at Azerbaijan, which had results below expected.

Agenda

Still on Sunday, Lula has private meetings with the president of the European Council, António Costa, and the director general of the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), Audrey Azoulay.

On Monday (9), he fulfills the last commitments in France, including participation in the 3rd United Nations Conference on Oceans (Unoc 3) in Nice.