- Brazil will increase its greenhouse gas reduction goal to 67% by 2035, aiming to cut emissions to between 850 million and 1 billion tons of CO2.
- Critics argue that Brazil’s plan lacks clear measures to curb deforestation and limit fossil fuel use, warning it may not meet its goals without more decisive actions.
- Brazil’s updated climate pledge will be closely watched at COP29 as the country prepares to host COP30 in 2025 in the Amazon city of Belém.
Brazil increased its greenhouse gas reduction target from 59% to 67% by 2035. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration announced the new “nationally determined contribution” (NDC) ahead of COP29, the UN Climate Change Conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The new target strengthens Brazil’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, aiming to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Brazil seeks to cut emissions to between 850 million and 1 billion tons of CO2 annually by 2035, down from 2.4 billion tons in 2005.
Vice President Geraldo Alckmin will present this revised NDC at COP29. The new plan covers all sectors of the economy and pushes Brazil toward its 2050 net-zero emissions goal. The announcement followed Brazil’s recent achievement of a 30% reduction in Amazon deforestation, the most significant decrease in 15 years.
Critics, however, question the new targets. Observatório do Clima, a Brazilian environmental NGO, raised doubts about the plan’s effectiveness. Marcio Astrini, the group’s executive secretary, argued that the target falls short of Brazil’s fair contribution to global climate efforts. He also pointed out the lack of concrete measures to control deforestation and reduce fossil fuel use.
Astrini criticised the Lula administration for offering vague plans. He warned that Brazil’s emissions could surpass 650 million tons without more decisive action by 2035. Observatório do Clima urged the government to provide transparent details and a clear strategy to achieve zero deforestation and limit fossil fuel growth.
Brazil’s climate policies continue to face scrutiny, especially given the country’s leadership role in global climate talks. Deforestation in the Amazon remains a crucial issue. While the recent drop in deforestation rates shows progress, environmentalists stress that Brazil must enforce stricter regulations to meet its new climate goals.
With COP30 set to occur in Belém, a city in the Amazon, in 2025, Brazil can demonstrate its climate-issue leadership. The upcoming conference will allow the country to showcase its commitment to fighting climate change and protecting the Amazon.
As COP29 approaches, the world will closely watch Brazil’s actions. The Lula administration must now turn its pledges into concrete results. The success of the new NDC will depend on Brazil’s ability to address critical challenges, especially those raised by environmental groups, and implement real, lasting change.
Brazil plays a crucial role in the global effort to combat climate change. The country’s actions, particularly in protecting the Amazon rainforest, will significantly impact achieving global climate goals. Whether Brazil can meet its ambitious targets hinges on the government’s commitment to delivering effective policies and responding to environmental concerns.