President mentions the role of the body in resolving conflicts and says that “anyone can be the next victim”
The president (PT) returned this Sunday (22 March 2026) to criticize the performance of the United Nations Security Council. He said that the collegiate has been “missing” in an attempt to resolve conflicts.
“In its 80 years, the UN has played an important role in the decolonization processes, in the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons, in the restoration of the ozone layer, in the eradication of smallpox, in the affirmation of human rights and in the support of refugees and immigrants. But the Security Council has been silent in the search for conflict solutions. A world without rules is an insecure world, where anyone can be the next victim”he stated.
The statement was given during a speech at the special session of COP15 (15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species), in Campo Grande (MS). The president of Paraguay, , was next to the PT member. Also participating in the event were:
- Marina Silva – the Environment;
- João Paulo Capobianco – the Ministry of the Environment, which assumes the presidency of COP15;
- Simone Tebet – Planning and Budget;
- Luciana Santos – Science and Technology;
- Alexandre Silveira – Mines and Energy;
- Fernando Aramayo Carrasco – Chancellor of Bolivia;
- Eduardo Riedel (PP) – from Mato Grosso do Sul;
- Rodrigo Agostinho – president of Ibama;
- Amy Fraenkel – executive secretary of CMS (Convention on Migratory Species);
- Herman Benjamin – from the Superior Court of Justice.
The Minister of Indigenous Peoples, , would also participate in the event, but was unable to attend. He is at the (Instituto do Coração), in São Paulo, after feeling unwell, with high fever and abdominal pain.
It is the first time that Brazil hosts and presides over COP15, which will be held until March 29th.
Read Lula’s full speech at the event:
“Dear friend, Santiago Peña, President of the Republic of Paraguay and his delegation of ministers accompanying him.
“Dear friend, Fernando Aramayo Carrasco, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia.
“My dear friend Eduardo Riedel, governor of Mato Grosso Sul and his lady, Monica Riedel. Adriana Lopes, mayor of Campo Grande.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the governor and the mayor for the invaluable help they gave so that this event could take place here in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul.
“I want to congratulate the ministers who accompany me: Alexandre Silveira, minister of Mines and Energy; Simone Tebet, of Planning and Budget; Marina Silva, of Environment and Climate Change and Eloy Terena, substitute minister of Indigenous Peoples.
“Ms Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.
“Minister Herman Benjamin, president of the Superior Court of Justice. Ambassador Maurício Lyrio, Secretary of Climate, Energy and Environment [do Ministério das Relações Exteriores].
“Rodrigo Agostinho, president of Ibama; Mauro Pires, president of the Chico Mendes Institute for Conservation and Biodiversity; Enio Verri, general director of Itaipu Binacional and fellow executive director of the UN Convention on Migratory Species.
“It is a great honor for Brazil to host the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species.
“I welcome all participants.
“Organizing this event in Campo Grande, in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, is a strategic choice.
“We are at the gateway to the Pantanal, the largest tropical floodplain in the world.
“This region symbolizes, in a unique way, the natural wealth of South America and the interdependence between countries, whose fauna and flora cross borders.
“The Convention on Migratory Species reminds us of a simple but powerful message: migrating is natural.
“By crossing continents connecting distant ecosystems, these species reveal that nature knows no limits between states.
“The jaguar moves throughout almost the entire preserved territory of the Americas, looking for areas to hunt and reproduce safely.
“Like her, every year, millions of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish and even insects cross continents and oceans.
“These journeys connect ecosystems, preserve natural cycles and ensure the balance that makes life possible.
“Protecting these animals is protecting life on the planet.
“The survival of these species depends on collective action.
“This Convention was created in 1979, even before the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Conference.
“She was a pioneer in building an institutional environment and climate architecture at the United Nations.
“His work allowed the control and mapping of almost 1,200 animals, classified as endangered and threatened species.
“It contributed to the recovery of the humpback whale and the green turtle, which were about to disappear.
“Climate change, water pollution, extractivism and infrastructure works without adequate planning are growing challenges.
“After almost five decades, it is natural that the Convention needs to be updated.
“The Brazilian presidency of COP15 has three priorities:
“First – Dialogue with the principles enshrined in the Climate, Desertification and Biodiversity Conventions, such as common but differentiated responsibilities.
“Second – Work to expand and mobilize financial resources, create innovative multilateral funds and mechanisms, mainly for developing countries.
“Third – Universalize: the Pantanal Declaration, which we adopted today, proposes that more countries become effectively involved in protecting species and migratory routes
“My friends,
“The theme of this High Level session shows something essential: there will be no lasting prosperity in Latin America without the protection of our biodiversity.
“From the Amazon to the Cerrado, from the Pantanal to the Andes, from tropical forests to coastal areas, ecological corridors are formed that are fundamental to global climate balance.
“It is important that, in addition to adequate financial resources, we have the capacity for articulation and shared management.
“For almost 20 years, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay have maintained a Memorandum for the Preservation of Migratory Birds that protects 11 species.
“Latin America and the Caribbean are pioneers in signing the Escazú Agreement, on environmental democracy, social justice and the defense of those fighting for the environment.
“The Agreement awaits approval by the Brazilian Senate, and has broad support from my government.
“The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization is also essential to strengthen the joint actions of the eight countries that are home to the forest.
“At ACTO, we recognize that combating environmental crimes, such as deforestation, mining and animal trafficking, requires coordinated action beyond our national borders.
“With this objective, in 2023 we created the Amazon International Police Cooperation Center, based in Manaus.
“We hope that the discussions at this COP15 will contribute positively to the creation of a Whale Sanctuary in the South Atlantic and the Marine Protected Area in Antarctica.
“Until recently, Brazil’s international image in the environmental area faced profound questions, directly impacting our economic and commercial relations.
“Since 2023, we have chosen to follow a new path, guided by the conviction that conserving and producing sustainably is not only possible, but necessary.
“We rebuilt the institutional framework and environmental policies that had been dismantled.
“In a short time, we had significant results.
“Deforestation in the Amazon fell by half.
“In the Cerrado, the drop was more than 30%.
“We reduced fires in the Pantanal by more than 90%.
“We put Brazil back on the map of multilateral efforts for the environment.
“Let’s stand and sit at COP30 do Clima.
“We launched the Tropical Forests Forever Fund and the Carbon Markets Coalition.
“As hosts at the G20 and BRICS summits in 2025, we put fair and sustainable development at the center of discussions.
“We engaged in the Oceans Conference in Nice and ratified the High Seas Treaty.
“This month, we created the Albardão National Marine Park, in the extreme south of Brazil, in an area of 10 thousand km² that serves as a route for dolphins and sea lions.
“We present the candidacy for the Abrolhos region to be considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“We also intend to create areas to protect seamounts in the regions of Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas.
“On the occasion of this COP 15, we decided to adopt 3 new measures:
“- we created a new conservation unit: the Córregos dos Vales do Norte de Minas Gerais reserve, with an area of 41 thousand hectares.
“- we expanded the area of the Pantanal National Park by 47 thousand hectares, increasing the total protected area to 183 thousand hectares.
“- we expanded the area of the Taiamã Ecological Station, also here in the neighboring state of Mato Grosso, by 57 thousand hectares, bringing the total protected area to 68 thousand hectares.
“Our objective is to achieve the goal of ensuring 30% protection of the ocean area by 2030, as provided for in the Convention on Biological Diversity.
“Ladies and gentlemen,
“This COP15 takes place at a time of great geopolitical tensions.
“Unilateral actions, attacks on sovereignty and summary executions are becoming the rule.
“In its eighty years, the UN has played an important role in the decolonization processes, in the prohibition of chemical and biological weapons, in the restoration of the ozone layer, in the eradication of smallpox, in the affirmation of human rights and in the support of refugees and immigrants.
“But the Security Council has been silent in the search for conflict solutions.
“A world without rules is an unsafe world, where anyone can be the next victim.
“The history of humanity is also a history of migrations, displacements, bonds and connections.
“Instead of walls and hate speech, we need welcoming policies and strong and renewed multilateralism.
“May this COP15 be a space for collective advances in defense of nature and humanity.
“Thank you very much.”
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