(MENAFN) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took advantage of the official inauguration of the 30th United Nations climate summit (COP30), held on Monday in the Amazonian city of Belem, to urge global leaders to take decisive action and “defeat” those who dismiss climate science.

During the first plenary meeting, Lula openly confronted climate denial and the spread of false information, insisting that such forces obstruct international collaboration.

“In the age of misinformation, obscurantists reject not only scientific evidence but also the advances of multilateralism,” he declared. “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.”

This firm rebuke came as key figures from some of the planet’s largest economies — notably the United States, China, and India — were missing from the gathering.

Lula criticized the absence of “the men who wage war,” specifically highlighting the growing defense budgets backed by the US and Europe.

He further denounced the enormous global expenditure on military purposes, maintaining that these funds are being poorly distributed and should instead be redirected toward climate initiatives benefiting developing nations.

The left-leaning president contrasted the immense financial cost of armed conflict with the comparatively smaller investment required to achieve environmental and climate objectives.

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