{"id":60157804,"date":"2026-10-30T17:27:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T17:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/?p=60157804"},"modified":"2026-10-30T17:27:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T17:27:14","slug":"lula-v-congress-brazils-re-elected-leader-faces-environmental-battle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialogue.earth\/en\/forests\/lula-v-congress-brazils-re-elected-leader-faces-environmental-battle\/","title":{"rendered":"Lula v congress: Brazil\u2019s re-elected leader faces environmental battle"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The climate agenda was largely absent from the campaigns of the two candidates in the 2026 Brazilian elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But just after his re-election for a fourth term on Sunday, Luiz In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva made clear his intention to transform Brazil into a developed country by investing in the green, digital and creative economies. \u201cWe will show the world how climate policies are handled in this country,\u201d he pledged. In his previous term, the incumbent made it a priority to bring Amazonian deforestation to the lowest levels since 1988, when records began. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lula\u2019s unlikely victory against Fl\u00e1vio Bolsonaro \u2013 who won the first round of voting with 47% in early October \u2013 was supported by an historic mobilisation on the streets and social media. It is a setback for the far right in Brazil, which has embraced<\/a> climate change denial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"aerial<\/div>
Two million Lula supporters took to the streets of S\u00e3o Paulo on 24 October, the eve of the presidential election runoff. Historic mobilisation on the streets across the country and on social media proved a setback for the far right (Image: Daniel Frias<\/a> \/ M\u00eddia NINJA<\/a>, CC BY NC<\/a>)<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

However, conservative, pro-agribusiness lawmakers have secured a large majority in congress during these elections. Experts warn this could make it difficult for Lula to achieve his environmental targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During his third term, Lula reversed the upward trend in deforestation across Brazil\u2019s main biomes. He also reduced the country\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions rate, and rebuilt environmental and climate governance following four years of dismantling under the previous president, Fl\u00e1vio\u2019s father Jair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Monday, the Netherlands announced a contribution of USD 500 million to a forest protection fund launched by Lula<\/a> at COP30 in Brazil last year<\/a>. It was an early sign of the international backing for his fourth term\u2019s environmental vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>
Recommended<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/a>\n\n\n\n

Andr\u00e9 Guimar\u00e3es, executive director of the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (Ipam), tells Dialogue Earth that the Dutch announcement is a result of Lula\u2019s international \u201ccredibility\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Brazilian president has already confirmed his participation in COP31 this November, which takes place in Antalya, T\u00fcrkiye. But experts interviewed by Dialogue Earth believe Lula needs to go beyond simply continuing the fight against deforestation to fulfil the country\u2019s potential for environmental and climate leadership. Despite his environmental credentials, Lula has faced criticism for his enthusiastic support for oil and gas exploration in the Amazon basin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Liuca Yonaha, vice-president of Brazilian climate policy think-tank the Talanoa Institute, Lula\u2019s fourth term could serve as an unprecedented opportunity to rethink the country\u2019s economic model. She also thinks his administration needs to lay out a clear timetable for transitioning away from fossil fuels: \u201cIt is, perhaps, the first time that we as a nation have the opportunity to think, with a wider range of people included, about the path of development we want to take.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overcoming congress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In his first statement following his victory, Lula said Brazil\u2019s legislators had not been chosen by him but by the people, and that he would work with parliament to vote on and approve policies. But many of those legislators could prove a thorn in the side of any environmental agendas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brazil\u2019s position as one of the world\u2019s major exporters<\/a> of agricultural commodities such as soybeans, corn and livestock results in significant economic dependence on the sector. Agriculture remains the main driver<\/a> of the destruction of native vegetation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around seven in 10 parliamentarians in the new legislature are opposed to the socio-environmental agenda, according to analysis<\/a> by the Climate Observatory, Brazil\u2019s largest coalition of environmental organisations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most parliamentarians in Brazil\u2019s next legislature oppose a social-environmental agenda<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n