Lula advocates for united stance of Amazon countries at COP 28

"We aim to establish a collective policy among the eight South American countries to arrive at COP 28 with a strong position in defense of the countries preserving their forests, such as those in South America," Lula stated. Alongside Brazil, the Amazon region encompasses Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.

In his address, the Brazilian president reiterated his criticism of the United Nations (UN) composition, stressing the need for updating the list of member countries. He further criticized the composition of the Security Council, which, in his view, consists of countries that perpetuate wars.

"The UN cannot remain the same size as it was in 1945. We must expand the number of UN member countries, including African, Latin American, and Asian nations. Additionally, we need to reconsider the permanent members of the Security Council because they are the ones responsible for producing weapons and waging wars, without being subject to the Security Council's decisions."

The São Paulo Forum, which has faced criticism from figures associated with the Brazilian right, serves as a platform for political parties and movements representing the Latin American left to discuss shared agendas. The official website of the Forum, established in São Paulo in 1990, states its objective as "promoting the integration of countries, protecting nature, people, and sovereignty, and fighting against neoliberalism in the region."