Lula calls for rich countries to fund forest protection
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a speech at the Power Our Planet event in Paris on Thursday (June 22), placing the blame for the climate crisis on rich countries. Lula's participation in the event was at the invitation of Chris Martin, lead singer of the British band Coldplay.
"It is not the African people who pollute the world, it is not the Latin American people who pollute the world. In fact, the people who have polluted the planet in the last 200 years are the ones who did the Industrial Revolution. And, for this, they must pay the historical debt they have with planet Earth," said Lula, who received loud applause during his speech.
The Power Our Planet festival is a side event to the Summit for the New Global Financial Compact, which aims to bolster support for developing countries in addressing climate change issues. The event was held at Champ de Mars, in front of the Eiffel Tower, and was attended by leaders from Timor-Leste, Barbados, Ghana, and Kenya, as well as Paris mayor Ane Hidalgo.
Highlighting the significance of the Amazon rainforest, Lula shared compelling statistics, underscoring its status as the largest tropical forest in the world, spanning eight South American countries. He emphasized that the Amazon is not only home to over 400 indigenous peoples and more than 300 languages but also accounts for 40 percent of the planet's tropical forests, covering 6 percent of Earth's surface. Additionally, Lula expressed his commitment to achieving zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2030, a pledge that garnered resounding applause.
"When I took office, on January 1st, I assumed the responsibility that, by 2030, we will have zero deforestation in the Amazon. The Amazon is a sovereign territory of Brazil, but, at the same time, it belongs to all humanity. And, for this reason, we will make every effort to keep the forest standing," he stated.
Concluding his speech, Lula extended an invitation to the international community to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in 2025, to be held in Belém, Brazil.
Agenda in Paris
In Paris for the Summit for the New Global Finance Compact hosted by President Emmanuel Macron, President Lula is scheduled to meet with the French president on Friday (23), following the conclusion of the summit. His return to Brazil is planned for the weekend.
