At COP28, Lula says that Brazil will participate in OPEC+ to convince producers that fossil fuels will come to an end

On his second day of participation in COP28, which takes place in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) stated that Brazil will participate in OPEC+.

“I think it’s important for us to participate, because we need to convince countries that produce oil that they need to prepare for the end of fossil fuels. And preparing means taking advantage of the money they make from oil and making investments.”

OPEC brings together oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. OPEC+ includes other partner nations, but does not have the same power as the group’s official members.

Lula’s speech comes three days after the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, indicated that Brazil could be part of the group, during a virtual meeting of the climate conference.

The possibility of Brazil joining the group was criticized by environmentalists, who advocate an end to the use of fossil fuels — one of the main items on the agenda of the UN climate conference.

In an interview during COP28, the minister of environment and climate change, Marina Silva stated that she does not see Brazil’s eventual participation in OPEC+, as an observer, as something contradictory, “if it is to lead the debate on the green economy, on need to decarbonize the planet.”

Lula participated in a dialogue event with representatives of civil society. The room reserved for the meeting was full before the event even started. Outside, a person held up a sign with the phrase “Lula, let the people in”.

In an interview with CNN after the event, the member of the “Climate is for Change Coalition”, Marcele Maria de Oliveira, who participated in the dialogue with Lula, stated that Brazil has a fundamental role in the climate debate, but recalled the importance of being attentive to the dialogues that Brazil can establish.

“A lot of attention is needed when we talk about energy transition and about sitting at the table with people and organizations and politicians who have already declared that they are not in the mood to think about this issue. Brazil is inserted in the context of the global south with the opportunity to sit at the table of the global north. And this needs to be used responsibly. Lula claims to be responsible, but we have to keep an eye on it, keep the pressure on, because we know that if we open the gate the cattle will pass through,” he stated.

Lula’s agenda at COP28

On his second day at the climate conference, Lula also participates in another round of bilateral meetings with the President of the Republic of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel and the President of the African Union, Mr. Moussa Faki.

Lula also holds meetings with the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali and has lunch with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron.

The Brazilian president participated in a G-77+China meeting on Climate Change, where he gave a speech defending stronger UN measures to end wars, and an event on forest protection and energy transition, in which he gave an emotional speech alongside Marina Silva.

At the end of the day, the Brazilian president participates in a celebration of the United Arab Emirates’ National Day.