By Carlos Meneses
Belém, Brazil (EFE).— Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he expects the upcoming United Nations Climate Summit (COP30), which begins Nov. 10 in Belém, to take place without ideological bias and to approve a “timeline” to phase out fossil fuels.
In a meeting with international news agencies, including EFE, Lula also discussed United States attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, his ongoing tariff negotiations with United States President Donald Trump, and his plans to run for re-election in 2026.
The progressive leader, who will host around 50 heads of state and government this week, said he is confident COP30 will be “the best” in history.
“We don’t want the COP to remain a climate marketplace of ideological products, where everyone says what they want and no one is obliged to comply,” Lula said.
Brazil to push for global forest fund and clean energy expansion
Lula defended China, acknowledging that the Asian giant “pollutes a lot,” but stressing that it has made “the greatest progress” in its energy transition. He urged countries to stop trading blame and instead accelerate the implementation of climate commitments.
The Brazilian president will present several initiatives, including a global fund to protect tropical forests, designed to replace the concept of “donations” with shared responsibility and mutual benefit.
He also plans to quadruple global production of sustainable fuels such as ethanol and propose the creation of a UN-linked international council to monitor and sanction countries that fail to honor climate pledges.
On the most sensitive issue, oil, Lula said he supports discussing a timeline to phase out fossil fuels but without setting immediate deadlines.
“It would be an act of incoherence and irresponsibility to declare the end of oil now,” he stated.
Brazil remains among the world’s top ten oil producers and recently approved new drilling near the mouth of the Amazon River, an area of immense ecological value.
“If I were a false and lying leader, I would have waited until after the COP to issue that license,” Lula added.
Lula criticizes US attacks and urges regional dialogue
Lula also commented on US military operations that have bombed boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific, leaving more than 60 dead.
“I had the opportunity to speak with President Trump about this issue, and I told him that Latin America is a zone of peace. We don’t need wars,” he said.
The Brazilian leader urged Washington to help combat drug trafficking “without firing” on Latin American countries, insisting that political disputes must be resolved “through politics, not weapons,” in a veiled reference to Venezuela.
He warned against any US ground operations in Venezuelan territory and offered to mediate: “We don’t want conflicts in South America. The only conflict we want is verbal.”
Lula confirmed that he discussed the issue with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and will propose addressing the matter at next week’s EU–CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit in Colombia.
Meanwhile, Brazil is negotiating with Trump to lift sanctions on Brazilian officials and to remove a 50% tariff on its exports, imposed after former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was convicted of plotting a coup. Lula said he would call Trump again after COP30 if talks stall.
“In the best moment of my life”: Lula eyes 2026 re-election
Domestically, Lula confirmed his intention to seek re-election in Oct. 2026, declaring that, at 80, he is “in the best moment” of his life and determined to prevent the far right from returning to power.
“As long as it depends on me, never again will a far-right denialist govern this country,” he affirmed.
Lula took office in January 2023 after defeating Bolsonaro, who is now under house arrest and serving a 27-year sentence for leading a coup attempt to remain in power. EFE
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