UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Wednesday that his country will return to its climate ambition at the Paris Agreement level after his predecessor back-peddled.
"I am pleased to announce today that we are going to update our nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement, the NDC. We will return to the level of ambition that we originally presented at COP21 and which had been changed under the previous government (of President Jair Bolsonaro)," said Lula da Silva in a statement at the Climate Ambition Summit.
The Paris Agreement on climate change was reached at the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference, also known as COP21.
The Brazilian president's statement was read out by Marina Silva, his minister of the environment and climate change, as the president fell ill in New York.
Lula da Silva was the first to speak Tuesday at the General Debate of the UN General Assembly.
"We will enhance Brazil's emission reduction commitments from 37 percent to 48 percent by 2025, and from 50 percent to 53 percent by 2030. This is despite the fact that our historical responsibilities are incomparably smaller than those of the rich countries," said Lula da Silva.
He said protecting the forest and the sustainable development of the Amazon are among his government's priorities. In the first eight months of this year, deforestation was reduced by 48 percent. The Brazilian government looks to reach zero deforestation by 2030.
The upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in 2025 (COP30) in the Amazonian city of Belem will be the most important COP since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, he said. "At COP30, all the countries will present their second round of commitments. It will be our last chance."
Before that, Brazil will host the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2024. Brazil will launch a task force on global mobilization against climate change during its G20 presidency, said the president.
In the case of climate change, inequality is reflected in two ways: in the responsibilities of those who generated the problem, and in the disproportionate way in which the poorest suffer its effects, he told the summit, held during the high-level week of the General Assembly.
The historical contribution of developed countries to global warming is a reality. More than 3 billion people are already directly affected by climate change, especially in low- and middle-income countries. It is the poorest, women, indigenous people, the elderly, children, young people and migrants who are most affected, he said.
"No country should have to choose between fighting global warming or fighting hunger or poverty. This is a false dilemma. We all have an ethical commitment to do both," said Lula da Silva. ■
