ECO listened attentively to Brazilian President Lula’s remarks on Friday at the leaders’ summit. Although not as inspired (and inspiring) as his speech in Sharm El-Sheikh last year, they nonetheless contained a few good points: a criticism of undelivered promises (check), a defense of CBDR (check), bashing the world’s military expenditures (check), and a quick list of Brazil’s own pro-climate actions in the last eleven months, including the impressive 22% drop on Amazon deforestation. Lula spoke of raising ambition to keep 1.5°C within reach, and we’d expect nothing less from the feted host of COP30.
But wait – what’s that thick black slick over there? Could it be… oil? Yes, friends, believe it or not, Brazil is willing to join OPEC, the infamous oil nations cartel. What’s worse: Lula’s Energy minister somehow thought it was a good idea to announce it on day one of COP28. (That’s the kind of encouragement you get when an oil exec is named COP president.) Pressed by civil society during a meeting on Saturday, Lula rushed to explain: “It’s not OPEC! It’s just OPEC+!” Really, Lula?
Let’s look at the facts here: Lula’s government is preparing to auction 603 new oil and gas blocks, onshore and offshore, just one day after the end of COP28. There is no way those hydrocarbons can be drilled and burned if we are to stay within IEA’s 1.5°C scenario.
President Lula, we have a chemistry refresher for you: climate ambition, like water, doesn’t mix with oil. Your government has done a lot to bring Brazil back to the climate fight and to cut land-use emissions after only eleven months in office. The world awaits your climate leadership. Don’t let the hydrocarbon fever spoil it.