Clashes broke out between protesters and security in the Blue Zone, the diplomatic hub of the event, on the second day of the United Nations climate change conference COP30 in Belem, Pennsylvania.
Meanwhile, Brazil is seeking ways to overcome resistance to anti-fossil fuel plans at the negotiating table. Internally, studies show growing support for oil exploration in Foz do Amazonas state.
But President Lula’s repeated claims that fossil fuels will help finance the energy transition have been called into question by scientific research.
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Why this is important: The first major disruption occurred on the second day of the meeting in Belem. Organizers said after a health and climate march that drew 3,000 people, a group invaded the Blue Zone, a restricted space where negotiators and participating countries’ pavilions are concentrated.
Among other issues, demonstrators protested oil exploration in Foz do Amazonas state and blamed it for causing global warming while defending taxes on billionaires. At least two security guards were injured.
This will be the first major protest in Scotland since the 2021 edition of the COP. Since subsequent conferences were held in non-democratic countries (Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan), demonstrations were suppressed and had little impact.
Why this is important: As COP30 president, Brazil is exploring ways to advance projects to end the use of fossil fuels, the main cause of global warming.
The country has already succeeded in reaching agreement on which topics should be on the agenda, but the energy transition is a more sensitive topic. Because as many rich countries as those whose economies are based on this kind of exploration refuse to make any major changes to their energy models.
Meanwhile, a new survey by Quest has found that the number of people in Brazil who say they support oil exploration in Foz do Amazonas state is increasing. Under pressure from Lula’s government, Mr. Ibama granted Petrobras an environmental license to drill wells on the equatorial margin and test the feasibility of exploration, a move widely criticized by environmentalists. Surveys show that a majority of the public still opposes the bill, but a growing number support it.
Why this is important: President Lula responded to criticism over possible oil exploration in Foz do Amazonas state, saying money from fossil fuels could finance the energy transition, and until now Brazil has no established plans.
However, according to scientific research, this is not the case. Of the 250 oil companies surveyed, only 20% have renewable energy projects in place. Even clean energy research does not receive massive support from the oil sector. And the data shows that Brazilian cities that received royalties from oil exploration were even less developed than others that did not.
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