Brazilian president Luís Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the 78th UN General Assembly, emphasizing global challenges such as climate change and racial inequality.
“The climate crisis endangers us all,” he said. Additionally, he expressed faith in human potential.
However, he warned that UN initiatives could fail. Specifically, he cited slow progress on the UN’s 2030 Agenda.
Lula called out the wealthy nations’ environmental impact. He revealed that the top 10% emit nearly half of the world’s carbon.
Importantly, he noted that developing nations don’t want to follow this model. In fact, he highlighted Brazil’s clean energy efforts.
“Amazon deforestation dropped 48% in recent months,” he added.
He urged for financial and tech resources. Without them, he argued, the Paris Accord can’t succeed.
“The pledged $100 billion for developing nations remains unmet,” he said. He also pointed out the IMF’s unequal fund allocation.
“Europe received $160 billion last year, but Africa only got $34 billion,” he concluded.
Background
This speech underscores the urgency of collective action. Lula touched on several key issues, showing a global vision.
His emphasis on climate change is not accidental. Indeed, it reflects a growing global sentiment.
He gave credit to ongoing efforts in Brazil. For example, the drop in Amazon deforestation shows progress.
Yet, the call to wealthy nations can’t be ignored. Lula clearly drew a line between past and present responsibilities.
He’s not alone in questioning global financial commitments. The $100 billion pledge seems inadequate given the scale of the issues.
His comment on IMF’s unequal distribution also raises eyebrows. Overall, Lula’s words are a call for equity, commitment, and accelerated action.