Lula Defends Amazon Oil Test License, Says Any Extraction Would Need New Approval

Overview

• Ibama granted Petrobras a five‑month permit to conduct exploratory research in the Foz do Amazonas, part of Brazil's Equatorial Margin.
• Lula told foreign reporters he would have been a "false leader" if he had waited until after COP30 to disclose the authorization.
• He stressed that the current approval covers only testing and that any extraction would require a separate environmental licensing process.
• Environmental groups and international media, including the New York Times, argue the decision undermines Brazil's credibility at the climate summit in Belém.
• Lula argues potential oil revenue would finance the energy transition and development in northern Brazil and is promoting the Tropical Forests Forever Fund to shift climate finance toward investment.