"We spend more on weapons than climate" Brazilian President calls out global inaction at COP28

Harsh criticism of several government's lax approach to fighting climate change was sounded by Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the second day of the COP28 climate conference in the United Arab Emirates.

As reported by Agencia Brasil, world leaders convened on the conference's stage on December 1, issuing an urgent plea for action in the fight against climate change. They emphasized the critical need to realign priorities, fulfill promises, meet targets, and ensure no nation is left behind, stressing the urgency of safeguarding the environment for future generations.

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva set a defiant tone, highlighting that governments allocate only a fraction of resources to combat climate change compared to expenditures on weapons.

“How many leaders [are] committed to saving the planet, when only last year the world spent more than $2 trillion on weapons – amounts that could be invested to fight hunger and confront climate change issues", Lula pointed out.

Da Silva even questioned how “many emissions were emitted by cruise missiles” flying over the heads of the world's poorest civilians.

He expressed frustration with unfulfilled climate agreements, questioning the commitment of leaders to saving the planet while massive sums are spent on weaponry.

Urging decision-makers to uphold commitments on climate action, da Silva called for even greater ambition when Brazil hosts COP30 in the heart of the Amazon forest in two years.