Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

In the past year, political will for climate action has blossomed: the U.S. made the most significant investment in climate solutions in its history with the Inflation Reduction Act; Australia elected a pro-climate government and committed to greater emissions reductions; and after years of state-sanctioned environmental degradation and destruction, the people of Brazil chose a new path by electing a climate champion in Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

As President, Lula has pledged to bolster Brazil’s standing in the world—renewing the country’s commitment to democracy, justice, and economic fairness. But in no other area does he stand to make a more significant impact than on the twin climate and biodiversity crises. Brazil is home to one of our planet’s most important natural wonders: the Amazon rain forest. After many years of rising deforestation and wildfires, the Amazon is transforming from a carbon sink into a net source of emissions. President Lula has pledged to protect the Amazon, and he has done it before—reducing deforestation by 72% in his previous term. From tackling forest loss to accelerating Brazil’s clean-energy transition, President Lula’s leadership will be critical in this decisive decade for climate action.

Gore is a former Vice President of the United States, and founder and chairman of the Climate Reality Project

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