At the UN, Lula calls on world leaders to fight hunger and climate change

Speaking on Tuesday, September 24, at the opening of the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reaffirmed his message that the world needs to pay attention and commit to facing climate change, combating hunger and inequality, and ending armed conflicts. The Brazilian leader also reinforced the need to reform the structure of the UN, so that the institution becomes more plural and capable of representing current global challenges.

“The aspirations of humanity are echoed in this plenary session. Here we hold the world’s great debates. In this forum, we seek answers to the problems that afflict the planet. It is up to the General Assembly, the greatest expression of multilateralism, to pave the way to the future,” the president emphasized. Traditionally, Brazil is the first country to speak at the general debate of nations, and the Brazilian president's speech marked the ninth time that Lula opened the UN General Assembly — an event from which, during his three terms, he was only absent in 2010.

The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty will be one of the main results of the Brazilian presidency of the G20, and is open to all countries. Today the world produces more than enough food to eradicate hunger. What is missing is to create conditions for access to food" – Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil

» Check out the full speech here

FOOD SECURITY – The need for global leaders to clearly unite to eradicate hunger in the world permeated much of President Lula’s speech. “The data released two months ago by the FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations] on the state of food insecurity in the world is shocking. The number of people going hungry around the planet has increased by more than 152 million since 2019. This means that 9% of the world’s population — 733 million people — are undernourished. Pandemics, armed conflicts, climate events, and agricultural subsidies from rich countries are increasing the scope of this scourge,” said the Brazilian leader.

GLOBAL ALLIANCE — Lula highlighted Brazil’s successful example on the issue and the importance of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, a Brazilian initiative that will be officially launched during the G20 Summit. “The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty will be one of the main results of the Brazilian presidency of the G20, and is open to all countries. Today, the world produces more than enough food to eradicate hunger. What is missing is to create conditions for access to food. This is the most urgent commitment of my government: to end hunger in Brazil, as we did in 2014. In 2023 alone, we will lift 24 million, 400 thousand people from the condition of severe food insecurity,” said the President.

LARGE FORTUNES — In another priority measure of the Brazilian presidency ahead of the G20, Lula criticized the vertiginous growth of super fortunes and the current tax policy for billionaires. “While the Sustainable Development Goals are lagging behind, the world’s 150 largest companies have, together, profited 1.8 trillion dollars over the last two years. The fortunes of the top five billionaires have more than doubled since the beginning of the decade, while 60% of humanity has become poorer. The super-rich pay proportionally much fewer taxes than the working class. To correct this anomaly, Brazil has insisted on international cooperation to develop minimum global taxation standards,” he said.

CLIMATE CHANGE – When addressing climate change and pointing out its drastic effects around the world, Lula was categorical: “The planet is no longer waiting to demand payment from the next generation and is tired of unfulfilled climate agreements. It is exhausted by neglected carbon emission reduction targets and financial aid to poor countries that never arrives. Denialism succumbs to the evidence of global warming,” said Lula.

The planet is no longer waiting to make demands of the next generation, and is tired of unfulfilled climate agreements. It is exhausted by neglected carbon emission reduction targets and financial aid to poor countries that never arrives. Denialism succumbs to the evidence of global warming.”

As an example, Lula mentioned the floods in Rio Grande do Sul and the severe drought in the Amazon. He reinforced the commitment to zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2030 and emphasized the work to punish those responsible for environmental crimes. The President also recalled other phenomena that have recently devastated the planet, such as hurricanes in the Caribbean, typhoons in Asia, droughts and floods in Africa, and torrential rains in Europe that have left a long trail of destruction.

“In the south of Brazil, we had the worst flooding since 1941. The Amazon is experiencing the worst drought in 45 years. Forest fires have spread across the country and have already devoured 5 million hectares in August alone. My government does not outsource responsibilities or abdicate its sovereignty. We have already done a lot, but we know that more needs to be done. In addition to facing the challenge of the climate crisis, we are fighting against those who profit from environmental degradation. We will not make compromises with environmental crimes, illegal mining, and organized crime. We have reduced deforestation in the Amazon by 50% in the last year and we will eradicate it by 2030”, reinforced Lula.

PIONEERING – Still in the field of the environment, Lula reinforced Brazil’s potential, highlighting that the country has one of the cleanest energy matrices in the world. “Brazil is emerging as a source of opportunities in this world that is revolutionized by the energy transition. Altogether, 90% of our electricity comes from renewable sources such as biomass, hydroelectric, solar, and wind power. We opted for biofuels 50 years ago, long before the discussion on alternative energy gained leverage. We are at the forefront in other important niches, such as the production of green hydrogen. It is time to address the debate on the slow pace of the planet’s decarbonization and work towards an economy that is less dependent on fossil fuels,” he urged.

COP30 – When referring to the importance of the United Nations Climate Change Conference that Brazil will host next year in the city of Belém, Lula highlighted the importance of multilateralism and the commitment to limiting the increase in global temperatures. “Brazil will host COP30 in 2025, convinced that multilateralism is the only way to overcome the climate emergency. Our Nationally Determined Contribution [NDC] will be presented this year, in line with the goal of limiting the increase in global temperatures to one and a half degrees,” he said.

REFORM – One of the most frequent themes in the Brazilian president’s speeches at international forums — the urgent need for reform in the United Nations — was once again emphasized. “We are reaching the end of the first quarter of the 21st century and the United Nations is increasingly weakened and paralyzed. It is time to react vigorously to this situation, restoring to the Organization the prerogatives that derive from its status as a universal forum. Ad hoc adjustments are not enough. We need a broad review of the Charter,” said Lula. “The exclusion of Latin America and Africa from permanent seats at the Security Council is an unacceptable echo of domination from the colonial past,” he added, also mentioning the fact that the UN has never had a woman as secretary-general.

GEOPOLITICAL DISPUTES – When addressing armed conflicts, Lula mentioned that spending on weapons continues to rise, and criticized the fact that the use of force without the support of international law has become the rule. Lula condemned the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October last year, while emphasizing the disproportionality of the Israeli reaction and the danger of an even greater escalation of the conflict, now in Lebanon. “What began as a terrorist action by fanatics against innocent Israeli civilians has become collective punishment for the entire Palestinian people. There are more than 40,000 fatal victims, most of them women and children. The right to defense has become the right to revenge, which prevents an agreement to release hostages and postpones a ceasefire,” he said. Lula also mentioned the conflicts between Ukraine and Russia and, in Africa, in Sudan and Yemen.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE – The president also addressed the importance of a broad discussion on the use of artificial intelligence in a democratic manner, which strengthens the cultural aspects of all nations. “We are interested in an artificial intelligence that is emancipatory and strengthens cultural diversity; that respects human rights, protects personal data, and promotes the integrity of information — and, above all, that it is a tool for peace, not for war,” Lula argued.