Lula and Leonardo DiCaprio Address Environmental Protection in Brazil

The President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, received American actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio today to discuss the impacts of climate change and initiatives aimed at protecting forests and Indigenous territories.

The meeting, held at the Planalto Palace and lasting approximately 40 minutes, provided an opportunity to address the measures implemented by the Brazilian government to tackle the climate crisis and preserve the environment, as reported by the Head of State on his social media platforms.

According to Lula, during the discussion he highlighted Brazil's progress in reducing deforestation, combating illegal mining, and demarcating Indigenous lands.

The President also emphasized Brazil's energy matrix and its position as a major producer of biofuels, noting that petrol currently contains a 32 percent ethanol blend and diesel incorporates 15 percent biodiesel, measures designed to decrease carbon dioxide emissions.

For his part, DiCaprio shared that he first visited the Xingu region 25 years ago and recalled his friendship with the Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire.

The actor further explained the work of his organization in defending Indigenous territories and Brazilian forests in collaboration with the federal government, as well as the initiatives it conducts across Africa and Asia.

Lula added that he expressed his appreciation to DiCaprio for his ongoing commitment to environmental and Indigenous causes.

The meeting was also attended by Wes Sechrest, Chief Executive Officer of the organization Re:wild, who commended the creation of the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a Brazilian initiative designed to mobilize resources for the conservation of tropical rainforests.

According to Lula, the mechanism aims to establish an innovative financing model through which a portion of the returns is used to reward countries that maintain their standing forests, while simultaneously providing financial returns to investors.

The gathering was likewise attended by the First Lady of Brazil, Janja Lula da Silva; the Minister of Culture, Margareth Menezes; her Executive Secretary, Márcio Tavares; and the Ministers of Indigenous Peoples, Eloy Terena, and of Environment and Climate Change, João Paulo Capobianco.

In addition, Rodrigo Medeiros, Director of Re:wild in Brazil, and Christopher Jordan, the organization's representative for Latin America, were present at the session.