On the 3rd day of COP28, the United Nations (UN) Conference on Climate Change held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 116 countries committed to tripling their renewable energy capacities by 2030.
Despite being celebrated as a historic gesture, this commitment did not escape criticism. After all, to achieve carbon neutrality, it is crucial to rapidly reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Continue reading and explore with us other announcements, debates, and relevant speeches from this 3rd day of the Climate Summit, with exclusive coverage by Grupo Myr!
3rd Day of COP28: USA Commits to Stop Using Coal-Fired Power Plants
On the 3rd day of COP28, John Kerry, the U.S. Special Envoy for Climate, announced the country’s adherence to the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), a global coalition of governments, companies, and organizations working to accelerate the transition from uninterrupted coal-generated power to clean energy.
This decision implies the Biden administration’s commitment to not build new coal power plants and to progressively phase out the existing ones. However, no specific date was specified.
“We will work to accelerate the progressive elimination of coal worldwide, building stronger economies and more resilient communities. The first step is to stop aggravating the problem: stop building new coal-based thermal power plants.”
John Kerry
(U.S. Envoy to COP28)
Kerry’s announcement was made a day after French President Emmanuel Macron called for the world’s largest economies to stop using coal before 2030.
According to data from the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions:
Coal accounts for about 40% of fossil fuel emissions;
The USA and China account for nearly 60% of carbon dioxide emissions (one of the GHGs) from coal burning.
Also read: Net Zero: The Path to a Sustainable Future and Brazil’s Potential!
President Lula Gets Emotional and Breaks Protocol on the 3rd Day of COP28 During the Panel “Forests: Protecting Nature for Climate, Lives, and Livelihoods”
In the forest protection panel this Saturday, December 2nd, President Lula was moved during his speech, giving the floor to the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva.
“We need much, much more. Twenty-eight editions of COP for forests to speak for themselves for the first time. And I couldn’t talk about forests if I had a person from the forest in my government. Marina was born in the forest and learned to read at the age of 16”.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
(President of Brazil)
Marina Silva, who was also emotionally moved, reiterated the Brazilian proposal for forest preservation. The initiative is for nations with sovereign funds to contribute financially to a fund created for the guarantee of tropical forest conservation.
The minister mentioned the Lula government’s measures for environmental protection, emphasizing that Brazil’s current environmental policy is not sectoral but transversal, encompassing all ministries.
During the panel, the minister said to the president:
“Your directive to protect the forest is more than command and control; it is a directive for sustainable development in its 4 dimensions: environmental, social, economic, and cultural.”
Marina Silva
(Minister of the Environment)
Reduction in Amazon Deforestation
The Lula government announced a 22.3% reduction in Amazon deforestation in the last 12 months until July, according to data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE).
These numbers represent the best performance since 2019, marking a starting point for a reversal in the increasing trend of deforestation.
Lula Speaks at the G-77 + China Meeting on Climate Change
Watch the Brazilian Government Channel to see how President Lula’s speech went at the G-77 + China meeting on climate change.
Lula Confirms Brazil’s Adhesion to OPEC+
This Saturday, President Lula also officially announced Brazil’s adhesion to OPEC+.
However, according to Lula, this entry of the country will be a way to convince oil producers to accelerate the energy transition.
“I think it’s important for us to participate because we need to convince the countries that produce oil that they need to prepare for the end of fossil fuels. And preparing means using the money they earn from oil to make investments.”
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
(President of Brazil)
From COP 28 to COP 30: Strengthening Civil Society Engagement in Climate Change Dialogues
President Lula also participated this Saturday in the panel “From COP 28 to COP 30: Strengthening Civil Society Engagement in Climate Change Dialogues”.
The session brought together the Minister of Cities, Jader Filho, the Governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho, the Mayor of Pará, Edmilson Rodrigues, members of civil society, among other authorities.
The Governor of Pará emphasized the importance of building, with society, a path of changes in these two years that separate COP28, in Dubai, from COP30, in Belém.
“Let’s have popular participation, an important asset so that, by 2025, we have the most extraordinary opportunity and meeting involving all those who join this noble cause: preserving the environment and the peoples who exist in it”.
Helder Barbalho
(Governor of Pará)
Helder Barbalho announced the creation of the “Recovery Unit” in the state. The initiative aims to establish a protected area, similar to the existing conservation units in Brazil.
The intention is to allocate this area for forest concession, with the aim of promoting the restoration of deforested vegetation, starting with the Triunfo do Xingu Recovery Unit, in Altamira (PA).
Other important panels marked the 3rd day of COP28 and had the in-person participation of our director, Thiago Metzker:
Climate Financing for Cities: Accelerating Urban Climate Action, Adaptation, and NDC Implementation;
Inclusive Strategies for Local Climate Adaptation and Resilience;
Brazilian Leadership: Expanding Climate Impact through Joint Work;
Amazon Cities Forum.
USA Declares Support for Brazil’s Ecological Transformation Plan
At the Brazilian pavilion, John Kerry met with the Minister of Finance, Fernando Haddad.
In a statement released today, December 2nd, the U.S. government declared support for Brazil’s Ecological Transformation Plan (ETP) and the intention to work together with the country on the climate change agenda.
ICLEI Pavilion – Multilevel Action & Urbanization
Co-organized by UN-Habitat and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion serves as a global stage for the municipal and subnational climate agenda at COP28.
ICLEI Announces its 2024 Congress in São Paulo
During COP28, this Saturday, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability announced the launch of the entity’s National Congress to be hosted next year, 2024, in São Paulo, gathering 1,200 mayors.
The announcement was made by Edson Aparecido dos Santos, from the Municipal Government Secretariat – SP, alongside the Executive Secretary of ICLEI, Rodrigo Perpétuo.
“It is essential that all cities can come together to seek funding sources to solve the big problems we face every day”.
Edson Aparecido dos Santos
(Municipal Government Secretariat – SGM – SP)
Check out Grupo Myr’s Interviews on the 3rd Day of the Climate Summit!
Directly from COP28 in Dubai, our director, Thiago Metzker, had discussions today with several key figures from the Brazilian government.
Christiane Ferreira, Secretary of Environment for Belém (city of Pará State) , talked about the city’s preparation for COP30 in 2025, in Brazil.
“We are preparing the municipality not only for COP but also for Belém to become a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive city”.
Christiane Ferreira
(Secretary of Environment for Belém)
Aline Cardoso, Secretary of Economic Development for the City of São Paulo said:
“We need a transition to a green economy, to a new economy. In this sense, we have supported entrepreneurs, startups and green jobs. Looking at all ways to transform the economy of this metropolis into a greener economy, towards zero carbon.”
Aline Cardoso
(Secretary of Economic Development for the City of São Paulo)
Aline also talked about the importance of agriculture in the city and food security. “Without local action, there is no solution,” emphasized the secretary.
COP Dialogues: See Grupo Myr’s Review of the 3rd Day of the Climate Summit!
Our director Thiago Metzker also spoke today with Rodrigo Corradi, Deputy Secretary of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability,
Watch the full interview and follow our review of the 2nd day of the Climate Summit! *Insert video link where it is in red
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