Brazilian President Lula, right, in February 2025 at the City Park in Belem, the host city of COP30. TARSO SARRAF / AFP
No better symbol could have been chosen. As the mascot for the global climate conference (COP30), which will take place from November 10 to 21 in Belem, northern Brazil, authorities have chosen the Curupira. With flaming hair and a piercing gaze, this legendary figure from Amazonian folklore is the guardian of the rainforest. Mischievous, Curupira is known for outwitting hunters thanks to feet that face backward. It is impossible to follow, and difficult to tell whether it is moving forward or back.
Elusive, the Curupira reflects the spirit of this Amazonian COP, which all stakeholders consider one of the most uncertain in the history of climate negotiations. Even so, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, or Lula, has staked everything on this highly publicized conference, symbolically organized at the mouth of the Amazon. Against all odds, the left-wing president is determined to secure tangible progress.
"This COP comes at a very complex time," said Marina Silva. Speaking to Le Monde, Lula's renowned environment minister referred to the numerous "armed conflicts and trade wars" – from Gaza to Ukraine and including tariff disputes – that, she said, "undermine the spirit of cooperation and solidarity essential for addressing the environmental crisis."
