Lula at COP31 Urges Rich Nations to Honor Climate Commitments

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva opened the COP31 climate summit in Turkey on Wednesday, urging wealthy nations to honor climate commitments and accusing them of developing "at the expense of the planet." Lula criticized the weakening of multilateralism and presented five priorities, including $1.3 trillion in annual climate financing and a transition away from fossil fuels. He cited Brazil's 42% emissions reduction since 2005 and a 71% drop in Amazon deforestation between 2022 and 2026. The president linked his recent election victory to a sustainable national project, contrasting it with opponents who deny science and threaten forests. He also highlighted the Tropical Forests Forever Fund's progress and called for stronger emissions reduction targets.