A group of 250 scientists has urged Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to advocate for a “fast, fair, effective, and full phaseout of fossil fuels” ahead of the COP30 climate talks in Brazil. The scientists cite the growing frequency of heatwaves, mega-fires, floods, and climate-driven displacement as reasons for this urgent action.
In a public letter dated June 18, the scientists emphasized the critical juncture as the 10-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement approaches. They called for courageous leadership backed by science, urging leaders to make decisions aligned with scientific and moral imperatives.
In the Amazon, where new drilling is proposed under an emergency plan by the Brazilian government, Indigenous people have voiced concerns about inadequate consultation. Both Brazilian and international climate advocacy groups have criticized the government for supporting fossil fuel projects in environmentally sensitive areas, especially with COP30 in Belém looming. Lula has stated that fossil fuel resources are essential for funding the energy transition.
The letter was handed to Brazilian Ambassador André Aranha Corrêa do Lago during the United Nations climate conference in Bonn, Germany.
Australian climate scientist Bill Hare, head of Climate Analytics, personally delivered the letter. He stressed the need for President Lula to reconsider the approval of offshore drilling, which could result in significant greenhouse gas emissions.
The scientists pointed out that since the Paris Agreement, Earth has experienced its hottest years on record. In 2024, global temperatures exceeded the climate pact’s ambitious target of limiting warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 Celsius) above pre-industrial levels.
The letter highlighted the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change‘s 2021 report, which warned that existing fossil fuel plans would surpass the Paris temperature goals. The report calls for immediate and sustained reductions in fossil fuel use.
Dangerous Tipping Points Grow Near
Hare emphasized that Amazonian scientists initiated the letter due to rising risks to the Amazon. He warned of the potential transformation of the Amazon into a savanna if fossil fuel emissions continue unchecked. This loss would be a humanitarian catastrophe and threatens the Amazon’s future.
Paulo Artaxo, a professor at the University of São Paulo, and Friederike Otto of Imperial College London, co-authored the letter. Artaxo noted that halting fossil fuel exploration requires a global strategy amid declining multilateralism.
The letter urges immediate cessation of fossil fuel exploration to avoid a global temperature rise of three degrees Celsius. Artaxo highlighted deforestation, especially in the Amazon, as a critical issue.
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org