In a rallying cry amid rising Amazon heat, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva delivered a stark warning to world leaders: The planet can no longer sustain fossil fuel addiction, and humanity’s climate fight hangs in the balance without an urgent pivot to clean energy. Speaking at the Belém Climate Summit just days before COP30 kicks off on November 10, Lula unveiled a bold five-point blueprint to supercharge the renewables revolution, slamming the “dangerous” delivery gap that’s steering Earth toward over 2°C of warming.
“The renewables revolution is here. But we must go much faster – and ensure all nations share the benefits,” Lula proclaimed, spotlighting 2024’s seismic shifts: 90% of new global power capacity from renewables, $2 trillion in clean energy investments—$800 billion more than fossil fuels—and renewables now the cheapest new electricity source in nearly every country. His address, laced with calls for equity and speed, sets the tone for COP30’s high-stakes talks in Brazil’s rainforest heartland.
As delegates from over 190 nations converge on Belém for the November 10-21 summit, Lula’s words echo UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ recent nod to the same investment surge, underscoring a tipping point where clean energy now outpaces dirty fuels in funding and job creation. Yet, with scientists deeming a 1.5°C overshoot “inevitable” by the early 2030s, the pressure is on to halve global emissions by 2030 and hit net-zero by 2050.
2024 Data Backs Lula’s Optimism Amid Dire Warnings
Lula’s speech painted a vivid picture of momentum, backed by fresh 2025 analyses confirming the clean energy boom. Last year, renewables accounted for a record 92% of new global power capacity additions—585 GW total, led by solar’s 452 GW leap (77% of growth). Solar and wind dominated, with China installing nearly 64% of worldwide additions, pushing total renewable capacity to 4,448 GW.
Investment tells the same story: Global clean energy spending hit $2.1 trillion in 2024, eclipsing fossil fuels by $800 billion—a 70% jump over the decade. Total energy outlay topped $3 trillion, with clean techs like EVs, nuclear, and efficiency grabbing the lion’s share. Renewables’ cost edge? Solar PV averages $35/MWh versus $85/MWh for gas, fueling avoided fossil costs of $467 billion last year alone.
Jobs are flipping the script too: Every $1 in renewables generates three times more employment than fossils, with clean energy roles now surpassing fossil jobs globally—12.7 million versus 11.8 million. In 2023, energy sector hiring grew 3.8%, outpacing economies at 2.2%, with clean jobs adding 1.5 million against fossils’ 940,000. Wages? Clean roles saw steeper hikes—up to 9% in key markets—outstripping non-energy jobs at 6%.
But Lula didn’t sugarcoat the peril: Even maxed-out national pledges point to >2°C warming, unleashing floods, heat, and suffering. To claw back below 1.5°C by 2100, emissions must plummet nearly 50% by 2030, net-zero by 2050, then net-negative. COP28’s fossil transition pledge and 2030 tripling of renewables? “The mandate is clear—now we must close the delivery gap,” he insisted.
2024-2025 Clean Energy Milestones Highlighted by Lula
| Metric | 2024 Figure | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| New Power Capacity from Renewables | 92% (585 GW total) | Solar: 77%; Wind: 19%; Record growth, 15.1% YoY |
| Clean Energy Investment | $2.1T (vs. $1.3T fossils) | Up 70% in 10 years; Avoided $467B fossil costs |
| Clean vs. Fossil Jobs | 12.7M vs. 11.8M | 3x jobs per $1; Wages up 9% in clean sectors |
| Africa’s Clean Investment Share | 2% of global | Needs scale-up for 20% population, 600M without power |
Data from IEA, IRENA, and UN reports, November 2025.
Lula’s Five-Point Roadmap:
Lula’s blueprint demands action on multiple fronts, calibrated for diverse national paths but unified in aiming for a “net-zero world, followed consistently by a net negative world—powered by renewables.”
- Clarity and Coherence: Align laws, incentives, and policies for a just transition; scrap fossil subsidies that “distort markets and lock us into the past.” Echoing Guterres, Lula stressed ending the $1T+ annual global fossil handouts.
- People and Equity First: Bolster workers in coal, oil, and gas with training, protections, and opportunities—prioritizing youth and women. With 14M new clean jobs projected by 2030, retraining could absorb 16M fossil workers.
- Infrastructure Surge: Pour funds into grids, storage, and efficiency to match renewables’ boom. Lagging grids bottleneck 3,000 GW of queued projects.
- Clean Power for All Demand: Meet rising needs—including AI data centers—with 100% clean sources. Tech must solve, not strain, the crisis.
- Unlock Finance for Developing Nations: Africa’s mere 2% of global clean investment—despite 20% of world population—is a “shameful” inequity. Lula called for cooperation to slash capital costs, crowd in private cash, and tailor support to dependencies. Recent pledges, like Denmark’s $79M for African ag transformation, hint at momentum.
“We must support developing countries… through stronger cooperation, investment and technology transfer,” Lula urged, framing fairness as the “engine of acceleration.”
From Belém Summit to Global Action Imperative
Delivered at the Belém Climate Summit—a pre-COP30 powerhouse of leaders including France’s Emmanuel Macron—Lula’s address builds on his op-ed decrying “extremist forces” peddling climate lies. He reaffirmed Brazil’s clean matrix (88% renewable electricity) and biofuels leadership, vowing no fear on energy transitions. Yet, whispers of Brazil’s recent Amazon oil approvals underscore the irony, as Lula insists Earth “cannot sustain” fossil intensity.
As COP30 looms, expectations swirl around roadmaps for deforestation reversal, fossil phase-outs, and $1T annual climate finance. Lula’s finale? “Let us make the transition fair, fast, and final.” With overshoot looming, Belém could be the “COP of truth”—or a missed chance amid floods and fires
