She voiced her concern over the potential for a “promotional” approach to COP30. She underscored the event’s role as a serious multilateral effort addressing diverse climate realities and requiring global cooperation to deliver meaningful outcomes for the planet. Ms. Silva noted that the dire consequences of extreme weather events leave no room for festivities.

“When we host the World Cup or the Olympics, it becomes a party, doesn’t it? But this is a COP taking place in a world plagued by heat waves, which kill the most vulnerable—children and the elderly. A COP where tornadoes, hurricanes, and typhoons wreak havoc, and floods in places like Bangladesh claim 20,000 lives,” she stated.

“In the Amazon, rivers are drying up from a depth of 14 meters to just 40 centimeters, killing billions of fish. Fires are ravaging countries like Brazil, Portugal, and Canada. In Rio Grande do Sul, floods have submerged entire areas. This is not the spirit of an Olympics or a World Cup; it demands an overwhelming sense of responsibility.”

In light of these challenges, Ms. Silva called for COP30 to focus on implementing ambitious targets that ensure global warming does not exceed 1.5ºC. She also reiterated the demand from developing nations for annual climate financing of $1.3 trillion.

Ms. Silva stressed the need for countries to submit updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) before the conference begins. Under her leadership, Brazil presented its revised targets at COP29 in Azerbaijan. Other nations, including Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and, more recently, the United States, have also disclosed their commitments.

Ms. Silva commended the U.S. government for releasing its targets before the change in administration. President-elect Donald Trump, a critic of the Paris Agreement, has pledged to withdraw the U.S. from the treaty as he did in his previous term. However, under the treaty’s rules, the withdrawal would take a year to become official, meaning the U.S. would still be a signatory during COP30 in Belém. “I think it was a very appropriate gesture to send the new NDCs before President Biden left,” she remarked.

Ms. Silva emphasized that while the next COP will be held in the Amazon, it should not be mistaken for an “Amazon COP.” She noted that forests contribute around 10% of global emissions, while the remaining 90% stem from burning coal, oil, and gas.

Brazil’s dual stance on fossil fuels poses a challenge to its leadership in the global environmental agenda. Ms. Silva remains a rare dissenting voice within the government against expanding the country’s oil and gas production.

Suely Araújo, Public Policy Coordinator at the Climate Observatory and former federal environmental agency IBAMA president, underscored the importance of Brazil’s role in the climate conversation. Reflecting on recent global conferences on climate and biodiversity, she pointed out that outcomes have often fallen short of expectations. Ms. Araújo urged Brazil to capitalize on its leadership to drive meaningful progress at COP30.

“President Lula has a leadership profile and should exercise it,” she asserted while also addressing the oil exploration debate. Ms. Araújo criticized the government’s contradictory stance on fossil fuels, warning that it could undermine Brazil’s credibility in climate discussions. She dismissed the ongoing debate over oil exploration at the mouth of the Amazon as a “distraction,” urging the government to articulate a clear energy strategy.

Minister Silva, a vocal critic of the oil exploration project near Amapá, has managed to stall its progress through indirect means. IBAMA has twice denied environmental licenses to drill exploratory wells in the region. However, mounting pressure from within the government, including the Planalto Palace, could shift the narrative in 2025.

When asked about the pro-oil stance of her colleagues, Minister Silva refrained from direct criticism, instead highlighting Brazil’s potential to lead the global energy transition. “Brazil can contribute by producing green hydrogen and biofuels—not just products, but technology, which it has mastered,” she said.

“Does all this mean we’ve done our homework? Not at all,” she said. “I always say that today’s challenge is so great that even if we list a series of positive actions, we must assess whether the overall equation balances out. Until emissions are reduced and the inertia of insufficient results is broken, there’s no room for complacency.”