By Maria Josefina Arce

The climate agenda in Brazil regained importance when Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva assumed the presidency a little over a year ago, in which policies and speeches that put environmental protection at risk have been reversed.

The four-year term of Jair Bolsonaro, his predecessor in the Planalto Palace, was disastrous.

The ultra-right-winger cut the budget of the Ministry of the Environment and promoted agriculture and mining in the Amazon.

As a result, the largest tropical rainforest on the planet registered a devastating loss of forest mass. In December 2022 alone, Bolsonaro's last month in office, deforestation increased 150%.

Lula da Silva's government has managed to halt deforestation and resumed the policy of recognizing indigenous reserves, which allows the protection of these communities and the preservation of biodiversity on their lands.

The Brazilian president has now signed the minutes of the National Green Mobility and Innovation Program to mitigate carbon emissions from the country's automotive sector.

This initiative provides financial credits to those who invest in research, development and technological production to decarbonize the fleet of cars, buses and trucks.

The program, which is expected to mobilize credits between this year and 2028 of BRL 19.3 billion, is part of the Green Transformation Plan, launched last year.

This plan aims to promote development oriented towards preserving the environment and combating climate change.

As the Brazilian president stated, no form of economic growth and wealth generation can be considered unless it is green and sustainable. The planet, he stressed, can no longer withstand environmental pressure.

Lula da Silva and the government over which he presides have been working to make Brazil a benchmark for sustainability. The steps taken reflect his commitment to prioritize care for the environment, especially the Amazon, which is of utmost importance for biodiversity and climate regulation in the Americas.