On the eve of COP 30, Brazil seeks to assert itself as an environmental and food power, but it carries contradictions that weaken this narrative. In a speech at the opening of the 80th UN General Assembly, President Lula declared that this will be the “COP of truth”, the moment when world leaders must prove the seriousness of their commitments to the planet. For decades, the country has been trying to position itself as an emerging power based on two pillars — the environment and food.
In the environmental field, Brazil claims the role of “guardian of the Amazon” and a central player in global climate regulation, as well as a leader in biofuels and renewable energy. This position was further weakened in October 2025 with the approval by Ibama of the first licence to drill an exploratory well 500 km from the mouth of the Amazon River, on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin.
In the food sector, the country is reviving the image of the “breadbasket of the world”, based on the promise of intensified production, claiming that economic growth and environmental preservation can go hand in hand. This position is fraught with internal contradictions: although indicators point to an overall reduction of 32.4% in deforestation between 2023 and 2025, the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes show a high percentage of deforested areas.
