Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addresses leaders at the opening session of the U.N. climate conference COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, on Nov. 11. (Foto: Instagram)
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used his first international address since his reelection to praise popular participation in the country’s presidential runoff. Speaking at the opening session of the U.N. climate conference COP31 on Wednesday, Nov. 11, in Antalya, Turkey, Lula said voters had stood up to people who reject scientific evidence and threaten the Amazon.
“The Brazilian people went to the polls two weeks ago. In an unprecedented mobilization, they took up the weapons of democracy,” Lula said in remarks to heads of state. He added that voters confronted those who, in his words, deny scientific evidence and threaten the survival of the world’s largest tropical forest, greatest biodiversity and largest freshwater reserve.
Lula said the election result was not simply a victory for a political party or a candidate, but a choice of a national project built around sustainability. He cited Indigenous people who traveled long distances to defend their territories, older people who left home to prevent setbacks to rights and achievements, and young people who mobilized for a dignified future for coming generations.
The president also described the climate crisis as a crisis of injustice, including inequalities involving class, gender and race, as well as disparities between countries. He urged wealthier nations to honor their climate commitments and said the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should not be abandoned. Lula argued that rich countries developed at the planet’s expense and therefore must meet their obligations.
Lula warned of what he called attacks on science and multilateralism, and criticized imbalances in global decision-making. He said the lack of consensus should not block progress and called for diplomacy to address disagreements. Speaking with a hoarse voice, he also said that veto powers and financial influence can skew outcomes in other forums, adding that undermining the climate regime would damage one of the multilateral system’s strongest features.
