Lula Promotes Brazil’s Energy Transition at COP31 Amid Domestic Challenges

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is attending COP31 in Turkey on Nov. 11, with an agenda highlighting Brazil’s reported progress on deforestation and, especially, the energy transition. The country is often presented as a leader in renewable energy, but its climate ambitions face contradictions and practical obstacles, including continued fossil fuel development and infrastructure needs.

Lula is scheduled to make at least three speeches at the summit. He is expected to join the opening remarks with the presidents of Turkey and Australia, deliver a three-minute address to heads of state, and speak at an event for the Tropical Forests Forever Facility. Energy transition is expected to be a central theme. Lula is also expected to present figures from Brazil’s 2026 National Energy Balance: renewable sources accounted for 49.4% of the country’s total energy mix in 2025, while renewables made up 86.8% of its electricity mix.

Heber Galarce, president of the National Institute of Clean Energy, said Brazil’s climate leadership should be reflected in domestic measures that provide affordable, reliable energy, create jobs, and attract investment—not only in international commitments. He said Brazil’s renewable-heavy electricity mix gives it an advantage, but that the country must convert that resource into broader economic and energy benefits. In his view, the COP offers a chance to examine whether domestic decisions match Brazil’s international pledges.

Lula’s schedule in Antalya runs from Nov. 10 to 12 and includes bilateral meetings and speeches at high-level forums with other heads of state. During the visit, he is also due to hand the COP presidency to Turkey and Australia. Other events in Antalya will address forests and civil society participation. Lula will then travel to Manila for a state visit and the 49th ASEAN summit, with the stated aim of strengthening trade ties. ASEAN was Brazil’s fifth-largest trading partner in 2024, with bilateral trade totaling about $38 billion. A business forum is planned, with 113 Brazilian companies from various sectors expected to participate.

The government’s promotion of the energy transition coincides with continued development of fossil fuels. During Lula’s administration, Petrobras moved ahead with exploration of new wells at the mouth of the Amazon River. A report released that week by Observatório do Clima, in partnership with Stand.earth, ClimaInfo, and WWF-Brasil, said Petrobras had secured $61.5 billion in financing from major banks since the signing of the Paris Agreement.

Galarce said another major challenge is preparing Brazil’s electricity system to make better use of available renewable power, not simply increasing generation capacity. He pointed to the need for coordinated investment in transmission and distribution networks, energy storage, generation close to consumers, and measures encouraging electricity use. He also argued that renewable energy should reach transportation, industry, buildings, and isolated communities. That expansion, he said, requires accessible credit, charging infrastructure, modernized distribution networks, and local storage solutions where appropriate, including options for people who cannot afford to install their own equipment.

Galarce warned that slow decisions and regulatory uncertainty could undermine the opportunity. He called for continued regulatory progress, fewer barriers to new technologies, and investment choices based on their practical benefits. The goal, he said, should be to make Brazil’s renewable-energy leadership deliver not only climate commitments but also lower electricity costs and greater economic competitiveness.