Brazil's president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has told a UN climate conference he will crack down on illegal deforestation of the Amazon and revive links with countries that finance forest protection efforts.
The incoming leader, who will take office in January, told the COP27 climate summit in Egypt that said he would also push to host an upcoming world climate meeting in the rainforest.
In two appearances, Mr da Silva laid out a vision for management of the world's largest rainforest, critical to fighting climate change, in stark contrast to the approach of President Jair Bolsonaro, who oversaw some of the most rapid deforestation in decades.
"There will be no climate security if the Amazon isn't protected," said Mr da Silva, adding that all crimes in the forest, from illegal logging to mining, would be cracked down on "without respite."
Brazilian presidents have a wide range of powers when it comes to monitoring and regulating the Amazon.
The Ministry of Environment oversees the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, known as Ibama, which patrols the forests.
Federal police work across Brazil, including in states with large areas of forest, and the armed forces can also be deployed.
Mr Bolsonaro, who pushed development both in his pro-business rhetoric and policies, made several moves that weakened environmental protections.
These included the appointment of forest managers from the agribusiness sector, which opposes the creation of protected areas such as Indigenous territories, and pushes for the legalisation of land robbery.
Many Brazil experts have argued those changes opened the door to widespread criminality: the deforested area in Brazil's Amazon reached a 15-year high from August 2020 to July 2021, according to official figures.
Satellite monitoring shows the trend this year is on track to surpass last year.
The Amazon rainforest, which covers parts of several nations in South America, combats climate change by absorbing large amounts of carbon dioxide.
It's also home to some of the planet's most unique animals and plants, along with tribes that have lived in the forest for thousands of years.
The appearance at COP27 of Mr da Silva, who made an extraordinary political comeback after being convicted of corruption and serving time in prison, lent both symbolic and practical weight to discussions to reduce emissions and help developing nations confront climate change.
That's because Mr da Silva oversaw large reductions in deforestation during his previous time as president between 2003 and 2010.
Push to host 2025 Amazon climate summit
"Lula! Lula! Lula!" chanted the crowd before his first appearance in the morning, using the name Brazilians universally use for the former president.
In that meeting, Mr da Silva met several Brazilian governors, including those from important rainforest states like Amazonia and Para.
He also argued that the UN climate summit in 2025 should be based in the Amazon, so "people who defend the Amazon and defend the climate get to know the region close up."
He said he would pitch the idea to UN leadership this week.
During both speeches, Mr da Silva took several swipes at Mr Bolsonaro.
Mr Da Silva defeated Mr Bolsonaro in October's elections and will assume power on January 1, 2023.
"Brazil can't remain isolated like it was these last four years. [Officials from Brazil] didn't travel to any other countries, and no other countries travelled to Brazil," said Mr da Silva.
'OPEC of the Forests'
Mr da Silva also had some strong words for world leaders.
He mentioned a pledge by rich countries, made during the climate conference in 2009, to contribute $US100 billion ($148 billion) a year to help developing nations adapt to the impacts of climate change.
That effort has never been fully funded.
"I don't know how many representatives of rich countries are here," said Mr da Silva, pausing to smile and look out at the crowd.
"I want to say that my return here is also to collect on what was promised."
Without giving details, Mr da Silva said his administration would work with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Indonesia, along with Brazil home to the world's largest tropical forests.
Given the moniker "OPEC of the Forests," in reference to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the way they regulate oil production, Brazilian news reports have said the general idea would be for the three countries to coordinate their negotiating positions and practices on forest management and biodiversity protection.
The proposal was initially floated during last year's climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, according to the reports.
Brazilian leaders face development pressures
Despite Mr da Silva's lofty promises, the task for his incoming administration is huge.
While many people, particularly environmentalists and officials at climate conferences celebrate promises to protect the Amazon, Brazilian leaders have traditionally faced huge development pressures.
Those pressures come from sectors like agriculture and mining, along with many people who live in the Amazon and feel that it's for them to decide how the vast area is managed.
There is also the reality that Mr da Silva's environmental record as president was mixed.
Deforestation dropped dramatically during the decade after Mr da Silva took power, with Marina Silva, former childhood rubber-tapper who worked closely with murdered environmentalist Chico Mendes, as environment minister.
But in his second term, Mr da Silva began catering to agribusiness interests, and in 2008 Marina Silva resigned.
Marina Silva is also attending COP27, and is a contender for the top environmental job again.
Sassan Saatchi, a NASA scientist and forest expert, said successfully stemming deforestation would require several things, from stronger governance to economic initiatives which provide opportunities to people living in the Amazon.
Simone Karipuna, an activist from the Amazon, travelled with several other Indigenous women to Egypt to participate in the summit.
Between chants with several other women ahead of one of Mr da Silva's appearances, Ms Karipuna said she believed challenges could be overcome because Indigenous communities living in the forest could work with Mr da Silva.
"We had no dialogue at all with the current administration," she said.
AP
