President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized the UN Security Council for being 'omissive' in seeking conflict solutions at the COP15 opening in Campo Grande (MS). He also announced expansions of protected areas in the Pantanal. The conference addresses migratory species conservation.
The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species (COP15) opened on Sunday (22/3) in Campo Grande (MS), for the first time in Brazil. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), in a special session speech, stated that the UN Security Council 'has been omissive in seeking solutions to conflicts' amid 'major geopolitical tensions' and unilateral actions. He advocated for 'a strong and renewed multilateralism' and 'welcoming policies' for refugees and migrants, criticizing the five permanent veto-wielding members — China, United States, France, United Kingdom and Russia —, which 'produce the most weapons' and 'decided they own the world', as per his 18/3 speech. Lula outlined three priorities for Brazil's presidency: dialogue with climate conventions, expanding financial resources for developing countries, and universalizing protection, including the Pantanal Declaration. Environment Minister Marina Silva also spoke. Lula announced a 104,000-hectare expansion in Pantanal conservation units in Mato Grosso: Parque Nacional do Pantanal Mato-Grossense adds 47,300 hectares (35% increase from 135,000 ha, R$66 million) and Estação Ecológica de Taiamã adds 56,959 hectares (over 500% from 11,200 ha to over 68,000 ha, R$80 million), raising federal protection from 4.5% to 5.2% of the biome (15 million ha). He signed a decree creating the Reserva de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Córregos dos Vales in northern Minas Gerais (41,000 ha, R$780,000). Attendees included Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and Bolivian Foreign Minister Fernando Aramayo Carrasco; Lula held a bilateral meeting with Peña. Official programming runs from 23 to 29/3, with over 2,000 participants.
