An Age of Eloquent Addresses and Good Intentions is Finished: Brazil's UN Climate Conference Will Be About Concrete Steps

Today, in the Brazilian Amazon, the Belém conference commences prior to the UN's 30th climate summit (Cop30). I have convened world leaders during the period before the conference so that we can all commit to acting with the urgency that the environmental emergency requires.

If we fail to move beyond speeches into real action, public trust will diminish – not just in climate conferences, but in multilateralism along with global diplomacy in general. That is why I have summoned leaders to the Amazon: to make this the “Cop of truth”, the moment we demonstrate the seriousness of our shared commitment to the planet.

Humanity has shown its ability to conquer major obstacles when it acts together and is guided by science. We protected the ozone layer. Worldwide actions during the Covid-19 crisis proved that the world can act decisively with bravery and governmental determination.

Brazil hosted the Earth Summit in 1992. Agreements on climate, biodiversity, and desertification were endorsed, and principles were embraced that established a fresh model for protecting our planet and our humanity. During the last three decades, these meetings have yielded key accords and goals for cutting emissions – from ending deforestation by 2030 to increasing renewable energy threefold.

More than three decades later, global attention returns to Brazil to confront climate change. It is no coincidence that Cop30 takes place in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This is an opportunity for politicians, diplomats, scientists, activists and journalists to witness the reality of the Amazon. We want the world to see the forests' real status, the planet’s largest river basin, and the numerous inhabitants of the area. Cops cannot be mere showcases of good ideas or annual gatherings for negotiators. They should serve as encounters with actuality and opportunities for real steps against environmental shifts.

To jointly address this emergency, financial support is essential. It's crucial to acknowledge that the concept of shared yet varied duties stays as the fixed basis of any climate pact. That is why the global south demands greater access to resources – not out of charity, but as fairness. Rich countries have benefited the most from fossil fuel economies. They must now rise to their responsibilities, not just through pledges but by repaying what they owe.

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

At Belém, we are introducing a novel program for forest conservation: the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF). Its novelty lies in functioning as an investment fund, rather than a charity system. The fund will compensate forest preservers and contributors to the fund. A true mutually beneficial strategy for addressing environmental issues. Setting an example, Brazil has pledged $1 billion to the TFFF, and we expect equally ambitious announcements from other nations.

We also demonstrated leadership through becoming the second country to submit a fresh NDC. Brazil has vowed to cut its emissions by 59% to 67%, covering all greenhouse gases and all sectors of the economy. In this spirit, we urge all nations to present equally ambitious NDCs and to execute them thoroughly.

Shifting energy sources is crucial for achieving Brazil's climate goals. Our energy matrix is among the cleanest in the world, as 88% of our power is renewable. We excel in biofuel production and are advancing in wind, solar and green hydrogen energy.

Redirecting revenues from oil production to fund a fair, structured energy shift will be essential. Over time, oil companies worldwide, including Brazil’s Petrobras, will transform into energy companies, because a growth model based on fossil fuels is unsustainable.

Individuals should be the focus in climate policy choices and the shift to clean energy. It's important to acknowledge that society's most at-risk groups are the most affected by the impacts of climate change, which is why just transition and adaptation plans should target reducing disparities.

It's crucial to remember that two billion individuals have no access to clean technologies and fuels for cooking, and 673 million people still live with hunger. In response, we will launch in Belém a declaration on hunger, poverty and climate. Our commitment to fight global warming should be closely tied to the effort to end hunger.

It is equally essential that we push for changes in international governance. Today, multilateralism suffers from the paralysis of the UN security council. Created to preserve peace, it has not stopped conflicts. Hence, it is our responsibility to fight for the reform of this institution. During Cop30, we will push for establishing a UN climate council linked to the general assembly. It would be a new governance structure with the force and legitimacy to ensure that countries deliver on their promises, and a practical move towards overcoming the present deadlock in global cooperation.

At every climate conference, numerous commitments are made but see too few real commitments. The era of declarations of good intentions has ended: the time for action plans has arrived. That is why today we begin the "truthful Cop".