At the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva championed multilateralism and a peaceful Latin America, urging nations to unite on shared challenges from drug trafficking to climate change.
He took aim at recent U.S. sanctions on Brazilian institutions, calling them "unjustified" and denounced any interference in the judiciary as "unacceptable." On drug policy, Lula stressed that "no country can tackle drug trafficking alone" and warned that using lethal force outside wartime amounts to "extrajudicial execution," underlining the need for international intelligence-sharing and joint operations.
Turning to the climate crisis, Lula announced Brazil's $1 billion seed investment in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), a proposed multilateral endowment to safeguard endangered forests. "Brazil will lead by example," he declared, inviting partners to make equally ambitious commitments ahead of COP30 in Dubai.
The TFFF envisions a $125 billion fund blending sovereign and private contributions. Managed like an endowment, it would pay countries annual stipends based on how much of their tropical forests remain standing, creating a direct link between conservation and economic support.
To kickstart this mechanism, Brazil needs an initial $25 billion from governments and philanthropies to unlock around $100 billion in private investment, according to policymakers. If realized, this model could redefine climate finance and set a new standard for public-private collaboration.
For entrepreneurs in green tech, activists championing biodiversity, and digital nomads exploring sustainable travel, Lula's call is a signal: join forces, innovate solutions, and turn pledges into tangible impact. As the world heads toward COP30, multilateral cooperation is no longer optional – it's the blueprint for a greener, more equitable future.
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Brazil's Lula urges multilateralism, launches $1b forest fund
cgtn.com
