At pre‑COP event, Brazil proposes global response to wildfire
During Pre-COP, a preparatory event in Brasília for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), representatives of the Brazilian delegation showed the 67 participating countries a proposal for a global response to forest fires and fires in other ecosystems around the world.
André Lima, special secretary for deforestation control and environmental land use planning at Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment, pointed out that in 2024 alone, Brazil saw 35 million hectares of forests, fields, cerrado, and pastures consumed by fires. In the Amazon alone, an area of 6 million hectares of native vegetation – larger than countries such as Belgium or Switzerland – was affected.
“We need to go further and adopt a strong and effective code of conduct that ensures that forest fires are treated as a global climate priority,” he pointed out.
The approach, which will be officially launched at COP30 in Belém, recognizes the knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities in initiatives for prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and the ecological use of fire.
The move aims to engage nations in efforts to manage fires resulting from the impacts of climate change, such as extreme droughts and high temperatures. The initiative was presented in the form of a call for countries to become signatories.
The Secretary of Climate, Energy, and Environment of the Ministry of Foreign Relations, Ambassador Maurício Lyrio, recalled that the challenges posed by global warming are shared by all countries and should receive an equivalent global response.
“No nation can tackle these challenges alone. That is why we are proposing this call to action on integrated fire management and forest fire resilience,” he declared.
COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev, who also participated in the session, expressed his support for the initiative and highlighted the importance of choosing the location to host the next round of climate negotiations.
“Hosting COP30 in the Amazon provides a powerful platform to advance forest fire resilience, and we are pleased to support this important initiative. Unfortunately, fires are becoming increasingly frequent, severe, and unpredictable,” he noted.
