“Today we immerse ourselves in the impactful G20 speech by the extraordinary Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, former President of Brazil. His words are a powerful call for global responsibility and a catalyst for positive change.”
The power of the view from above
Lula began his speech with a powerful image: that of the Earth seen from above, from the perspective of a cosmonaut. “The Earth is blue,” said Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space. Images sent by the Chandrayaan-3 probe confirm that despite everything, our planet is still blue and beautiful. This draws attention to the beauty and fragility of our world, evoking a sense of wonder and responsibility.
The climate emergency
Lula did not just charm with space imagery, but tackled the climate emergency head-on. He spoke about global warming, droughts, floods, increasing storms and wildfires. He emphasized how these events threaten food and energy security and how the poorest, most vulnerable, are the most affected.
The historical debt
But Lula has done more. He touched on a crucial point: historical debt. He pointed out that those who have historically contributed the most to global warming must bear the greatest costs to combat it. A debt accumulated over two centuries that requires a concrete response.
Challenge to rich countries and untapped resources
Here is a key point: rich countries need to invest in reducing CO2 emissions and develop new technologies for the energy transition. This is an act of justice and responsibility. But Lula goes further, stressing that poor countries in the Global South must have access to resources so that they do not have to exploit their land by destroying forests. They need resources to implement technologies that limit pollution without stifling development.
"Under every tree is a woman, a man, a child."
Here is the key phrase,
the pearl of Lula’s speech. These words remind us that each tree represents a valuable part of our planet, but also a community that depends on that land. This simple statement is a reminder of the deep connection between environment and humanity.
A call to global action
Finally, Lula issued a call for global action. He talked about renewable energy, biofuels, sustainable development and low-carbon agriculture as solutions. He called for a concrete commitment from the G20 to address the climate crisis and stressed the importance of quantitative targets and a task force for global mobilization against climate change.
In conclusion, Lula’s speech to the G20 is a call for accountability, justice and action. It emphasizes that our planet is precious and fragile, but that we can make a difference. Lula’s words inspire us to change the world for the better, to work together for a sustainable future.
