Lula evades the abandonment of oil in the Amazon – 7/8/2023 – Environment

The Lula government (PT) dodged Colombia’s proposal to interrupt new oil exploration projects in the Amazon and left open what posture will be adopted in the context of diplomatic negotiations for an agreement to protect the biome in the eight Amazonian countries.

A Sheet revealed this Saturday (8) that the government of Gustavo Petro proposed, during discussions on an agreement to be adopted in August, that the Amazonian countries end the illegal exploitation of minerals in the biome by 2030 and that new oil exploration projects in the region are taken forward. Colombia has also proposed zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2030.

The proposals placed by the Colombians on the negotiating table were discussed by diplomatic representatives of the eight countries that make up ACTO (Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization): Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador and Bolivia.

They participate in meetings in Leticia, a Colombian city next to Tabatinga (AM), a Brazilian municipality on the upper Solimões River. The region is on the triple border of Brazil with Colombia and Peru. The work ended this Saturday, with the participation of presidents Lula and Petro.

Of the proposals made by the Colombians, Brazil had already committed to ending deforestation in the Amazon by 2030.

The intention to explore for oil in the region recently caused a crisis between government sectors and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, commanded by Marina Silva (Rede), who was also in Leticia.

Ibama (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), linked to the ministry, denied, in May, Petrobras’ request for a license to drill for oil in the Foz do Amazonas basin. The state-owned company said it should insist on the project.

Diplomatic representatives in Leticia conducted negotiations on the joint declaration to be adopted at the Amazon Summit, scheduled for August 8 and 9, in Belém. The summit should bring together the presidents of ACTO countries. The meeting in Leticia served as a preview of what will be discussed at the summit in Brazil.

In his speech at a plenary session at the event held in the Colombian city, which also hosted a technical-scientific meeting on the Amazon, Lula did not mention the issue of oil exploration in the region.

The Brazilian president made more direct mention of one of the Colombians’ proposals, already promised by the country: zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2030.

“My government is committed to zero deforestation by 2030. This is a commitment that the Amazonian countries can assume together at the Belém summit,” said Lula.

Petro spoke next. And it made a direct charge on oil exploration projects in the Amazon.

“Are we going to allow oil exploration in the Amazon? Are we going to hand over blocks for exploration? Is this generating wealth?”, questioned the Colombian president, next to Lula.

“This is a decision to be taken jointly. [entre os oito países amazônicos]. Obviously, each country is sovereign,” said Petro.

Before the arrival of the presidents in Letícia at the end of this Saturday morning, ministers of the Environment from the Amazonian countries held a meeting to deal with matters related to the summit that will take place in August in Brazil.

The communiqué released, with topics discussed by the ministers, mentions the idea of ​​ending deforestation and illegal mining, but not the proposal to stop new oil exploration projects in the Amazon. In the document, Colombia reinforces the proposal.

Participating in the meeting were Marina Silva and the Minister of the Environment of the Colombian government, Susana Muhamad. The Colombian was one of the spokespersons for the idea of ​​abandoning new oil projects in the Amazon region.

After the farewell of the two presidents, Marina gave an interview to journalists and was asked about Brazil’s position in relation to Colombia’s proposal. According to her, there was no joint declaration by the Ministers of the Environment of the eight Amazonian countries, only notes.

“We do not have a deliberation, it is not possible to arrive at a joint declaration in a two-day process. Each country will have its own discussion”, said the minister.

“With regard to the issue of energy security, Brazil’s position will be discussed within the National Energy Policy Council,” he said. “President Lula gave a sign of the great investment that will be made in the area of ​​clean, renewable and safe energy, with a focus on solar, wind, biomass and green hydrogen production.”

According to Marina, the debate on oil in the Amazon “will be concluded in each country’s time”.

“We want to carry out a process of productive discontinuity. The world has a fossil energy matrix, everyone is in a race to make this substitution, and Brazil certainly has the best conditions to make this transition”, said the Brazilian minister.

The Amazonian countries also have good conditions for this transition, according to Marina. “But these are internal discussions, which will be carried out in the light of strategic interests, to face climate change and preserve forests.”