(MENAFN) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva used the official opening of the 30th UN climate change conference (COP30) in Belem on Monday to urge world leaders to decisively "defeat" those who reject climate science.

Speaking at the first plenary session, Lula directly challenged climate skepticism and the spread of misinformation, which he said impedes global collaboration.

"In the age of misinformation, obscurantists reject not only scientific evidence but also the advances of multilateralism," he said. "They control algorithms, sow hatred, and spread fear. They attack institutions, science, and universities. It is time to inflict a new defeat on the deniers."

His remarks came amid the notable absence of leaders from major economies, including the US, China, and India.

Lula also criticized "the men who wage war," particularly pointing to rising defense budgets in the US and Europe. He condemned the global focus on military spending, asserting that these resources would be better allocated to climate action in developing countries.

"If the men who wage war were at COP30, it would be much cheaper to spend $1.3 trillion a year to end the climate problem than $2.7 trillion to wage war as they did last year," he said, highlighting the disparity between defense expenditures and the funding needed to tackle the climate crisis.

The Brazilian leader urged negotiators to adopt ambitious targets and reaffirm the Paris Agreement’s central goal: limiting global warming to below 2°C compared to pre-industrial levels, with an aspirational target of 1.5°C. This requires reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing economic contributions to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

MENAFN11112025000045017281ID1110325140