Nelson de Sá: Lula enters the scene with a split between ‘Global South’ and ‘Global North’

Reuters, which advanced Lula’s plan two months ago, began its coverage of COP27 by hearing from environmentalists that “the new alliance of rainforest nations could be the key to unlocking funding at the climate summit” in Egypt.

“Having such a strong voice [Lula] in any alliance broadens and accelerates efforts to shift to climate-friendly economic development, ensuring that our forests remain standing,” says Annisa Rahmawati of Indonesia.

In English The Guardian, “Brazil, Indonesia and Congo in talks to form ‘Rainforest OPEC'” (above). He reports that the three, which account for 52% of the world’s tropical forests, seek a “strategic alliance”.

He hears from Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre that “these three ecosystems are crucial for the stability of the world”; and from Congolese Joseph Mukumo, that the alliance needs to recognize the role of indigenous communities for protection.

COP27 has already taken a step towards unlocking funding, as Bloomberg advanced: the acceptance by the richest countries of the debate around their debt for the accumulated environmental destruction.

In the New York Times, “for the first time, the topic of ‘financing arrangements’ was included on the agenda, overcoming long-standing US and EU objections.”

In coverage, from Bloomberg to the Washington Post, from the Polish TVP to the Canadian CBC, COP27 has been described as a clash between “Global South” and “Global North”. From Pakistan’s envoy, made a symbol of the effects of climate change:

“For developing countries that are suffering these impacts because of the policies of industrialized countries over the last 150 years, it’s a matter of fairness. There’s a lot of talk about global solidarity. But there’s this reluctance on the part of the Global North to accept that they caused that and therefore bear responsibility.”

BRAZIL BY MODEL

With the statements “Lessons from Brazil on democracy” on the printed cover, and “How did Brazil avoid the post-election chaos that engulfed the US?” on the home page, the NYT lists what differentiated the two systems.

With emphasis on the joint institutional response of Justice and Congress, in defense of the result; the speed with which it was achieved, three hours in Brazil, against “almost a week” in the US; and Alexandre de Moraes.

DO NOT BE AFRAID

With the headline “Bet on Brazil”, because the country “will boost the global economy” (above), the British MoneyWeek is another publication focused on the financial market that comes out with praise for the president-elect. Emphasizing “how efficiently the electoral system worked”, he advises: “Don’t be afraid of Lula”.

He argues that “the Latin American engine” will profit from trends such as “the global energy transition and population growth. What’s more, stocks are cheap.” In other words, “it is time to invest in Brazil, after the victory of Lula, the socialist”.