Cop30: Brazil aims for early agreement on ‘big four’ issues

By Jonathan Watts

President Lula has spent late morning and early afternoon at Cop30 looking for common ground, listening to concerns, and trying to use his charm to push forward a global roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels and end deforestation, reports Jon Watts from Brazil.

After flying into Belém around 10:20am, the Brazilian leader considered strategy with senior members of his negotiating team, including COP president André Corrêa do Lago and environment minister Marina Silva.

Emerging nations were his first priority in meeting with other delegations, including Brics allies China, India and Indonesia. It is unclear as yet how that gathering went, but this huge grouping will be one of the keys to success.

Another is The European Union, whose chief delegate – from Portugal – was invited in for the next meeting in the COP “reserved room.” Brazil is hoping the EU will lead in rallying the climate funds needed to unlock an agreement in Belém.

After a private lunch, Lula was scheduled to meet with negotiators representing the Africa Group and Small Island States, who are most affected by the climate crisis and are often seen as its moral persuaders.

Following this, the Brazilian president is due to talk to representatives of indigenous groups and civil society. Among the achievements of this COP is a greater-than-ever representation of forest peoples inside the negotiating area and the announcement of land demarcation for ten indigenous territories.

Source: The Guardian