Brazil will join OPEC+, the global alliance of oil-exporting nations, as it ramps up crude production despite hosting the upcoming UN climate summit.
Fabiano Maisonnave reports for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Brazil’s National Council for Energy Policy approved joining OPEC+, though the country won’t be bound by production quotas.
- President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva supports oil expansion, arguing revenues can fund green energy, but environmentalists criticize the move.
- Brazil, the world’s seventh-largest oil producer, has also pushed for offshore drilling near the Amazon River, a highly biodiverse area.
Key quote:
“Brazil’s entrance to any OPEC body is another sign of the government’s setback.”
— Suely Araújo, Climate Observatory spokesperson
Why this matters:
Brazil’s growing role in global oil markets raises tensions between economic interests and climate goals. As the host of the COP30 climate summit, the country faces scrutiny for expanding fossil fuel production while advocating for sustainability. Oil drilling near the Amazon could threaten biodiversity and Indigenous communities. At the same time, Brazil’s membership in OPEC+ signals its increasing influence in energy geopolitics, affecting global oil supply and prices.
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