President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) again charged the attendance of former US President Donald Trump to the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), scheduled for November this year in Belém, Pará.
Not to mention Trump’s name directly, Lula sent a clear message to the former US leader during his opening speech at the Third United Nations Conference on the Oceans (Unoc3), held on Monday (9) in Nice, France.
During speech, Lula stated that it is necessary to “convince the head of state of this world that the climate issue is not the invention of science, not the UN joke.” The Brazilian president pointed out that the confrontation of climate change must be treated as a global priority and that humanity needs to recognize the seriousness of the situation.
“The climate issue is a vital need to preserve our environment. We will have to make a decision: first, if you believe or not. If you believe, we will have to decide that there is no other space for us to live. It is on planet Earth,” he said.
The event in Nice is coorganized by France and Costa Rica and brings together more than 60 heads of state and government. The conference seeks to renew international commitments to the conservation of the oceans and the sustainable use of their resources.
UNOC3 is also directly related to the number 14 goal of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which deals with the protection of marine life. Although it is the only specific ocean -oriented goal, its implementation has been considered insufficient.
According to the UN, the oceans cover approximately two thirds of the Earth’s surface and are essential to the planet’s climate balance. Still, international protection instruments remain fragile and financing for seas -related environmental actions is limited.
During the week of the conference, the countries present should announce voluntary commitments for marine preservation, culminating in a joint political pact until the end of the event, scheduled for Friday, 13.
During his participation, President Lula highlighted the importance of the meeting for Brazil, especially in the context of the preparation of COP30, which will be headquartered in Brazilian territory. The government sees in Unoc3 an opportunity to broaden international debate on the relationship between oceans and global climate.
According to Lula, Brazil presented seven voluntary commitments during the conference. They cover areas such as marine ecosystem protection, maritime spatial planning, sustainable fishing, science and education.
One of the main announcements was the increase in protected sea coverage in the country, from 26% to 30%. “In addition to zeroing deforestation by 2030, we will expand from 26% to 30% the coverage of our protected marine areas, fulfilling the goal of the global mark for biodiversity,” said the president.
Among the other initiatives mentioned by Lula are programs aimed at preserving mangroves and coral reefs, as well as the elaboration of a national strategy to combat plastics pollution in the oceans.
The president also mentioned the inclusion of ocean culture in the Brazilian education system. “With support from UNESCO, Brazil was the first country to include oceanic culture in school programs and will continue to qualify teachers for the teaching of the blue curriculum,” he said.
In addition to Lula, other international leaders participated in the opening of the conference, including the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Spain Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Argentine president Javier Milei. UN Secretary-General António Guterres also spoke and warned of the critical state of the oceans.
According to Guterres, the oceans are trapped in a vicious cycle, being simultaneously victims and accelerators of climate change. According to him, when absorbing increasing levels of carbon dioxide, marine waters become warmer and more acidic, which compromises the balance of marine ecosystems.
According to UN data, oceans are responsible for feeding about 3 billion people worldwide and represent the main source of support for approximately 600 million individuals.
The expectation of the Brazilian government is that the realization of Unoc3 will serve as a political and technical catalyst to expand the visibility of the actions that will be proposed during COP30. The conference in Belém will focus on strengthening multilateral commitments around the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate change, especially in vulnerable regions.
The presence of global leaders, including representatives of great powers, is considered strategic by the Planalto Palace to ensure the political weight of the climate summit.
Although Lula did not directly mention Donald Trump’s name in his speech, the reference made during the event is interpreted as another attempt by the Brazilian government to involve the United States in international climate debates.