Environmental preservation depends on commitment to global governance, says Lula

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assessed Brazil's participation at Japan's G7 summit at a press conference today (22) before flying back to Brazil.

As well as fulfilling the official G7 agenda, President Lula took part in ten bilateral meetings with heads of State and government – and met with prominent Japanese businesspersons, or "notables" – during the three-day visit to Japan.

Lula also spoke with US, UK, and South Korea leaders and EU, WTO, OECD, and UN representatives.

The president reiterated Brazil's commitment to environmental preservation. "Brazil will bear its commitment to zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2030 and is advancing a comprehensive energy transition process," he said.

Lula also argued that Amazon's development depends on local communities' social and economic inclusion. "20 million people live in the Amazon, and they have the right to live, to work, to eat, and to have access to the material goods we all want," he said.

To Lula, the rich Amazon biodiversity harbors opportunities to develop the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries and generate clean jobs, for example. "The Amazon Rainforest does not belong to anyone in particular. It belongs to the people and the planet, although it is the sovereign territory of our country," he declared.

Lula argued that neither the Kyoto Protocol nor the Paris Agreement are being respected and demanded compliance with the agreements made by developed nations. According to the president, the world's wealthiest countries must honor their commitments at the Climate Change Conferences (COP). "At COPs meetings, people always say they're going to donate 100 billion dollars a year to developing countries so that they may preserve nature. We're still waiting for this to happen."

Lula acknowledged recent contributions by Germany, Norway, the US, and the UK to the Amazon Fund – but declared, nevertheless, that this still isn't enough.

He also stated that the effectiveness of worldwide conferences and conventions depends on more representation of the world's poorest countries in global decision-making. "In any case, Brazil will do what it's got to do. Preserving the Amazon is the Brazilian people's duty and responsibility," he said.
As part of the efforts to involve South American countries in the preservation agenda, Lula mentioned the Amazon Summit to be held in August, in Brazil, by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). ACTO comprises eight Amazon countries – Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. France is also part of the discussion because of its sovereignty over French Guiana.

President Lula also mentioned recent contacts with Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), both harboring vast areas of tropical forest in Asia and Africa, respectively, "so that we may, as a planet that still has forests, seriously offer ways of ensuring their upkeep – as long as the rich world fulfills the commitments it has made," he said.

WAR IN UKRAINE - The president reiterated his stance concerning the war in Ukraine and his efforts to establish a bloc of countries to work toward peace. "The world doesn't need war. The world needs peace, tranquility so that it may grow again and distribute wealth to the poor who suffer from hunger," said Lula. He also observed that the G7 Summit is not the best place to address wars, but the UN is.

Regarding the attempt to hold a bilateral meeting with Ukraine, president Lula explained that it had been scheduled for 3:15 PM local time. "We waited but were informed that they had been delayed," he said. Earlier on, both leaders attended a meeting addressing peace, stability, and prosperity in the world – and had heard each other's speeches.

REPUDIATING RACISM - President Lula opened the press conference by offering solidarity with soccer player Vinicius Júnior. The Brazilian player was targeted today by racist insults in a game in Valencia, Spain. "I think it's important that FIFA, the Spanish League, and other countries' leagues all take serious measures to combat this – because we cannot allow fascism to take over, or racism [to exist] in a stadium," said the president.