The signals seem confusing: COP30 host Brazil wants to be a climate leader, but refuses to give up its black gold. Illustration with “Block 59”, a new oil exploration project validated just days before the climate conference.
Entrusted to the national sector giant Petrobras, the project will study the possibility of extracting Brazil’s maritime subsoil equivalent to ten billion barrels of oil. A prospect that, according to experts, could raise the country from eighth place among world producers to fourth.
NGOs are speaking out and pointing out the environmental risks of the drilling, and “contradiction” from President Lula, who showcased his climate ambitions in the media, while supporting his oil industry. A clear position was taken by Lula during a much-commented interview in June, in the popular podcast “Mano o Mano”: “I’m realistic: the world is not ready to live without oil… Why can’t we explore this wealth of ours to generate other wealth, the energy transition? »
