A new effort, the Global Ethical Stocktake, has been launched by Brazil’s President Lula da Silva and UN Secretary-General António Guterres. This initiative focuses on including ethical considerations in climate discussions, something often overlooked in past negotiations.
Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and several other prominent figures, like Mary Robinson and Christiana Figueres, have expressed frustration with the ongoing climate policy process. They believe it no longer meets our urgent needs.
Brazil’s COP president hopes to change this trend. With years of experience in climate diplomacy, they encourage all parties to “act decisively in light of climate urgency.” This year’s summit aims for an ambitious Action Agenda.
However, the choice of location for the climate summit raises concerns. Construction of a new highway through the Amazon rainforest contradicts Brazil’s commitments to protect the environment. This project aims to ease traffic for visitors but harms local ecosystems and communities. Despite claims of sustainability, the road threatens to fragment wildlife habitats and disrupt lives. It will have bike lanes and solar lights, but critics see these as mere greenwashing.
To prepare for the 50,000 expected attendees, over 30 construction projects are underway, including a revamped port for cruise ships and a $81 million airport expansion.
Many Amazonian leaders fear their voices will be ignored, especially after participating in protests against government actions. These protests have included Indigenous groups blocking roads to stand against government actions that threaten their land. Brazil, with its heavy reliance on oil and farming, accounts for over 4% of global emissions. This makes it one of the top five polluters worldwide, releasing 2.3 billion tons of greenhouse gases just last year.
Climate change disproportionately affects Brazil’s poor, who face rising sea levels, extreme heat, and unpredictable rainfalls. Just weeks before the summit, a new law was passed that weakens environmental protections. This allows easier oil exploration and road construction in sensitive Amazon areas, evading necessary impact studies.
Following the law change, Petrobras, Brazil’s state-owned oil company, began drilling close to Belém despite previous concerns about biodiversity loss from spills. In fact, banks have recently injected $2 billion into oil and gas projects in the Amazon, highlighting the conflicting priorities of Brazil’s government.
Experts estimate that the Brazilian Amazon could hold nearly 60 billion barrels of oil. If extracted, this could lead to 24 billion tons of CO2 emissions, surpassing Brazil’s total emissions of the last decade. Such a move deeply undermines Brazil’s credibility as it heads into COP30.
“Climate is our biggest war,” says Ana Toni, CEO of COP30. There is eagerness for change, but skepticism remains strong. The upcoming COP30 will be crucial for addressing both human and environmental needs. It seems we stand at a pivotal moment for the planet.
Learn more about the Global Ethical Stocktake initiative and its impact on climate policy.
