Lula Inaugurates COP30 in Brazil, Challenging Climate Deniers

In a symbolic and political gesture, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva inaugurated COP30 today. This marks the first time the conference is being held in the Amazon, a challenge he compared to confronting global pollution.

“Hosting the COP here is a challenge as great as ending pollution on planet Earth… we decided to accept hosting it in an Amazonian state to demonstrate that, when there is will and a commitment to the truth, nothing is impossible; the only impossibility is not having the courage to face challenges,” Lula stated to the international delegates.

He emphasized that the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) must be a space for clarity and for combating misinformation.

“COP30 will be the COP of truth. In the era of disinformation, obscurantists attack not only science but also the rules of multilateralism. They attack institutions, science, and universities. It is time to inflict a new defeat on the deniers,” he declared.

Focus on Energy Transition and Misallocated Resources

During the inauguration of the thematic session on energy transition, Lula highlighted the importance of accelerating the adoption of clean energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and promoting sustainable technologies.

He recalled that investments in military conflicts are not only costly but also divert resources essential for confronting the climate crisis.

“If those who wage war were here, they would realize that it is much cheaper to invest one billion dollars to solve the climate problem than to invest two trillion in waging wars, as they did last year,” he pointed out.

The Path from Rhetoric to Concrete Action

Delegations from 194 countries, in addition to the European Union, are registered to participate in the event, which runs until the 21st, according to information from the COP30 presidency.

The capital of the northern state of Pará estimates it is hosting over 50,000 visitors, including diplomatic negotiators, observers, scientists, government representatives, civil society organizations, and social movements.

The event gained momentum in recent days with the holding of the Climate Summit (November 6-7), also in Belém.

Lula sought to engage nations in reaching a consensus on practical actions that could curb the imminent risk of the planet permanently experiencing temperatures above 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The focus is now on the negotiation tables, where commitments must be transformed into concrete plans with clear objectives, defined deadlines, and secured resources.

For the host leader, global action will only succeed if rhetoric is translated into deeds and if countries manage to coordinate efforts within a robust multilateral framework.