Syllabus: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Context
- Belém Summit opens ahead of the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazilian Amazon.
- Brazil hosted Earth Summit (1992): approved Conventions on Climate Change, Biological Diversity, Combating Desertification establishing paradigm.
- Past 33 years: gatherings produced important agreements and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions comprehensively.
- Targets include: ending deforestation by 2030, tripling renewable energy use ensuring environmental sustainability globally.
COP30 Significance
- COP30 takes place in heart of Amazon rainforest providing opportunity to witness reality of Amazon firsthand.
- World to see the true state of forests, planet’s largest river basin, millions of people living in region.
- COPs cannot be mere showcases: must be moments of contact with reality and effective action to tackle climate change.
Principle of Differentiated Responsibilities
- Common but differentiated responsibilities remains non-negotiable foundation of any climate pact ensuring fairness.
- Global South demands greater access to resources not out of charity, but justice recognizing historical inequities.
- Rich countries benefited most from carbon-based economy; must rise to responsibilities by honoring debts and commitments.
Brazil’s Climate Actions
- Deforestation Reduction
- In just two years: Brazil halved deforestation in Amazon showing concrete climate action is possible effectively.
- Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)
- Innovative initiative to preserve forests; operates as investment fund, not donation mechanism ensuring sustainability.
- TFFF rewards those who keep forests standing and those who invest in fund; genuine win-win approach to climate.
- Brazil announced $1 billion investment in TFFF; expects equally ambitious announcements from other countries ensuring global participation.
- Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
- Brazil second country to present new NDC; committed to reducing emissions by 59% to 67% comprehensively.
- Covers all greenhouse gases and all sectors of economy ensuring comprehensive climate action nationwide.
- Calls on all countries to present equally ambitious NDCs and implement them effectively ensuring global commitments.
- Energy Transition
- Energy transition fundamental to meeting Brazil’s NDC; energy matrix among cleanest in world globally.
- 88% of electricity from renewable sources; leads in biofuels, advancing in wind, solar, green hydrogen energy.
- Redirecting oil production revenues to finance just, orderly, equitable energy transition will be essential long-term.
- Oil companies worldwide including Brazil’s Petrobras will transform into energy companies as fossil fuel model unsustainable.
- Just Transition and Social Justice
- People must be at centre of political decisions about climate and energy transition ensuring inclusive approach.
- Most vulnerable sectors most affected by climate change impacts; just transition and adaptation plans must combat inequality.
- Two billion people lack access to clean technologies and fuels for cooking; 673 million still live with hunger.
- Declaration on Hunger, Poverty and Climate to be launched in Belém linking global warming fight with fight against hunger.
Global Governance Reform
- Fundamental to advance reform of global governance; multilateralism suffers from paralysis of UN Security Council.
- Created to preserve peace, Security Council has failed to prevent wars requiring institutional reform urgently.
- Advocate creation of UN Climate Change Council linked to General Assembly at COP30 for effective governance.
- New governance structure with force and legitimacy to ensure countries deliver on promises reversing multilateral paralysis.
Call for Action
- Every Climate Conference: many promises but too few real commitments showing lack of political will.
- Era of declarations of good intentions has ended; time for action plans has arrived requiring concrete measures.