Speaking at the opening of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pressed countries to deliver their NDCs. He also called for climate financing for developing nations
“COP30 will be the ‘COP of truth,’” Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared on Tuesday, September 23, during his opening speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to Lula, the moment must be treated with the utmost seriousness by world leaders if there is to be real progress in confronting climate change.
Lula spotlighted the climate crisis, reminding delegates that 2024 was the hottest year on record. He then underlined the urgency of implementing the Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit global warming to 1.5°C by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“COP30 in Belém will be the COP of truth. It will be the moment for world leaders to prove the seriousness of their commitment to the planet. Without a complete picture of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), we will walk blindfolded toward the abyss. Brazil has pledged to reduce its emissions by between 59 and 67 percent, covering all greenhouse gases and all sectors of the economy,” the president warned, issuing a call for countries to deliver their NDCs—the commitments each nation makes to cut emissions.
Financing
Lula also underscored the importance of climate financing for the Global South. “Developing nations confront climate change even as they battle other challenges. Meanwhile, wealthy countries enjoy a standard of living built on two centuries of emissions. Demanding greater ambition and greater access to resources and technologies is not a matter of charity, but of justice,” he stressed.
He highlighted the relevance of the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), an initiative Brazil has been developing since the G20. “Promoting sustainable development is the goal of the Tropical Forests Forever Fund, which Brazil intends to launch to reward countries that keep their forests standing,” Lula announced.
“In Belém, the world will see the reality of the Amazon. Brazil has already cut deforestation in the region by half over the past two years. To eradicate it, we must ensure dignified living conditions for its millions of inhabitants,” he added, stressing the importance of preserving forests.
Lula concluded with a call for stronger attention to climate action and the implementation of international commitments.
“The time has come to move from negotiation to implementation. The world owes much to the regime created by the Climate Convention. But it is necessary to bring the fight against climate change into the heart of the United Nations, so that it receives the attention it deserves. A council linked to the General Assembly, with the authority and legitimacy to monitor commitments, would give coherence to climate action,” he argued.
Agenda
Later today, during the UN General Assembly, Lula will co-chair, alongside COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago, a high-level event organized by Brazil to promote the Tropical Forests Forever Fund, one of the initiatives expected to reshape the way the world views environmental conservation.
On Wednesday, the Brazilian president will co-chair a session on Climate Action and COP30 with UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The aim is to rally countries to present their new NDCs ahead of COP30 in Belém.
