Marina Silva defends limits on oil exploration – 12/26/2023 – Environment

Brazil should consider limiting oil production and exploration, the country’s environment minister said, putting herself in opposition to the government’s own plans to transform the nation into one of the biggest oil producers by 2029.

“An issue that will have to be faced is that of limits, a ceiling for oil exploration. It is a debate that is not easy, but that oil producing countries will have to face,” Marina Silva told the Financial Times.

His comments reflect a tension in President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s efforts to play both sides of the climate debate — highlighting Brazil’s environmental credentials in protecting the Amazon’s crucial ecology while supporting oil drilling for the economic benefits. . The Ministry of Energy has set a target of increasing production from 3 million barrels per day last year to 5.4 million by the end of the decade.

Born in the Amazon rainforest and raised by impoverished rubber tappers, Marina Silva, 65, is today one of the most respected environmentalists in the world. Her appointment as minister earlier this year by President Lula was hailed as a symbol of Brazil’s commitment to ecological protection and the green transition.

But his mission faces obstacles even within the left-wing administration, especially the Ministry of Energy and state-owned Petrobras, which hope to tap giant new offshore fields to increase oil production.

The energy plan would make Brazil the fourth largest producer in the world, ahead of Iran, Canada and Kuwait. Earlier this month, the country joined the OPEC+ group – which comprises the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies – although Lula has insisted that its status will remain as an observer.

“Brazil is an oil producer. This is a debate that will have to be had, even in the context of wars. We are committed to the goal of tripling renewable energy. But all this cannot be done if we do not discuss the issue of limits exploration”, said Silva.

Alexandre Silveira, Brazil’s energy minister, told the Financial Times that he saw “no contradiction” between the country’s oil and gas goals and its aspiration to lead the world’s transition to green energy. He said oil revenues would help finance the transition.

However, Brasília’s focus on fossil fuels has provoked international skepticism, especially as Lula regularly calls on Western nations to take on a greater financial burden to protect the Amazon and the global environment.

“Brazil said one thing, but did another at the COP28 summit [em Dubai]. It is unacceptable that the same country, which claims to defend the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, is announcing its alignment with the group of the world’s largest oil exporters”, said Leandro Ramos, from Greenpeace Brazil.

Environment Minister Silva added: “We cannot give up on the energy transition. Energy security is necessary, but we must also think about the transition. Both things must happen.”

Lula said Brazil’s involvement in OPEC+ would focus on convincing oil-rich nations to invest in alternatives.

In the first nine months of this year, his government managed to reduce illegal deforestation in the Amazon by around 50% compared to the same period last year. The increasing destruction of the rainforest under the previous administration of Jair Bolsonaro had provoked international censure.

Silva, however, said he would not claim victory.

“We have sectoral targets. It’s not just deforestation. It’s also energy, industry, transport, land use and agriculture. All of these have CO₂ reduction targets,” she said. “We cannot resign ourselves to the results already achieved because, no matter how good they are, they will need to be improved.”