Critics of Oil Exploration in the Mouth of the Amazon See Contradiction in Lula and Use COP30 to Seek Support Against Fossil Fuels

During his speeches at COP30, President Lula (PT) defended ending fossil fuels but faced criticism for having authorized, weeks earlier, a new oil exploration front in the Mouth of the Amazon. The apparent contradiction dominated side debates in Belem. At an event organized by the Federal Prosecution Office, Chief Raoni criticized the government and called for the project to be halted. Other Indigenous leaders denounced the lack of consultation with affected communities, as required by ILO Convention 169. Protests also broke out in the conferences diplomatic area, where activists displayed banners against the project and accused the government of environmental inconsistency. On October 20, Ibama granted Petrobras a license to operate in Block 59 of the Mouth of the Amazon, following pressure from Minister Alexandre Silveira and Senator Davi Alcolumbre (Uniao BrasilAP). COP30 began on November 10, and the presidential palace feared the decision would coincide with the event. Ibamas president, Rodrigo Agostinho, stated that the process followed technical criteria and refused to delay the announcement to avoid international backlash. Civil organizations are using the summits visibility to intensify their criticism. According to Nicole Oliveira, director of the Arayara Institute, the goal is "to expose the inconsistency between Lulas rhetoric and his domestic actions" and to seek support from countries such as France, Costa Rica, and island nations to pressure Brazil into adopting tougher commitments against fossil fuels.