The environmental summit marks a pivotal shift in Brazil’s policy under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, focusing on the future of the Amazon amidst climate concerns.

In a significant move for both the Amazon rainforest and global environmental efforts, leaders from Amazon nations including Brazil, Colombia, and Peru have gathered in Belém, Brazil, to discuss the future of the world’s largest tropical rainforest. The summit, convened by Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, highlights a major policy shift after four years of Amazon destruction and international isolation under the leadership of Jair Bolsonaro.

The meeting, which brings together prominent leaders from across the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), includes Bolivia’s President Luis Arce, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, Guyana’s Prime Minister Mark Phillips, and Peru’s President Dina Boluarte. Notably, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro withdrew at the last minute, citing an ear infection, but other member nations such as Ecuador and Suriname have sent senior officials to represent their interests.

Lula, in a tweet marking the start of the summit, called it a “landmark moment” for Brazil and the region. He emphasized that the ongoing efforts to protect the Amazon and its people were historic. The summit underscores the urgent need for collaborative action in light of the growing global climate emergency and the critical importance of the Amazon in regulating the Earth’s climate and biodiversity.

The conclave signifies a dramatic turn in Brazil’s approach to the Amazon, with Lula da Silva steering the country toward policies that prioritize environmental protection and sustainable development, following a period of aggressive policies that saw large-scale deforestation under the previous administration.