Lula Skips Forests Speech at COP31 Because of Hoarse Voice

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva canceled a speech at a COP31 leaders’ summit on forests in Turkey on Wednesday, Nov. 11, because he was hoarse. He asked Environment Minister João Paulo Capobianco to read the prepared remarks.

Lula had already sounded hoarse during the opening ceremony for the leaders’ meeting earlier that day. He has experienced voice problems since the end of the election campaign and took several days off to recover, according to the report. He was scheduled to deliver another speech later Wednesday.

In the remarks read by Capobianco, Lula said countries with tropical forests should play a leading role in climate decisions. He also called the idea that environmental conservation conflicts with countries’ development “misguided.” He identified three major climate challenges: overcoming poverty, securing funding for climate action, and addressing what he described as a “lack of leadership.”

Lula criticized the removal of climate action from the agendas of the Group of Seven and Group of 20 in 2026. “The planet can no longer wait while wars and trade conflicts consume scarce time and resources,” he said. He also warned that countries’ failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonize their economies poses “a serious threat to tropical forests.” If those ecosystems pass their point of no return, he said, the global climate balance could be disrupted.

Lula said protecting and developing the Amazon would remain central priorities during his fourth term.