Ministers discuss the legacy of COP30 and Brazil's role in the energy transition.

247 - The future of the Amazon and Brazil's strategic role in the global energy transition were central themes of the International Sphere Forum, held at the Theatro da Paz, in Belém (PA), on Friday (10). The meeting brought together ministers, public managers and business leaders in debates that anticipate discussions of COP30, scheduled for November, also in the capital of Pará.

The conference reinforced Brazil's image as a protagonist in the international environmental agenda, discussing topics ranging from the legacy of the climate summit for the Amazon to the impacts of artificial intelligence on sustainability. The event was attended by ministers of the federal government, the governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho, the mayor of Belém, Igor Normando, as well as executives from major companies and representatives of civil society.

Amazon at the center of the agenda

Helder Barbalho highlighted the importance of Belém as the host city for COP30, emphasizing the city's unique location "in the atmosphere of the forest, in the Amazonian atmosphere." The governor advocated for transforming biodiversity into a sustainable economic driver, citing projects such as the Amazon Bioeconomy Park and the creation of a local "biotechnology valley." "May we, instead of using chips, use our essences, our plants, the richness of the forest," he stated.

Mayor Igor Normando also highlighted the long-term impacts of the event: "It is the beginning of a new era for our economy and for the people of the Amazon."

Public safety and combating crime

The Minister of Justice and Public Security, Ricardo Lewandowski, advocated for a global model to combat organized crime, which he described as a "transnational phenomenon," comparable to challenges such as global warming. He highlighted three areas of action: international integration, strengthening federal governments, and intensive use of technology.

Along the same lines, the Director-General of the Federal Police, Andrei Rodrigues, reported that COP30 already has an integrated security scheme in place, inspired by experiences from the G20 and the Olympics. Rodrigues also highlighted the 63% drop in fire alerts in the Amazon compared to 2024 and cited the Ouro Alvo program, which tracks gold extracted from the region.

Infrastructure, tourism and sanitation

Radamés Casseb, CEO of Aegea Saneamento, stated that investments in sanitation are one of the most significant legacies of the conference, highlighting that the company already serves 30% of the local population with social tariffs. “Nothing is more important for the ecosystem than sanitation. There are still 100 million Brazilians without treated sewage and 40 million without continuous access to drinking water,” he warned.

In the field of tourism, Minister Celso Sabino announced a target of 10 million foreign tourists by the end of 2025, three years ahead of the original forecast. "Brazil has never exceeded 6,8 million in a single year. We have already reached 7 million and should surpass 10 million by December, a historic milestone."

Energy transition and artificial intelligence

The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, emphasized that Brazil has competitive advantages to attract investments in data centers connected to renewable energy sources. He announced the country's first exclusive auction for electricity storage batteries, scheduled for 2026, with a capacity of 2 GW.

Visa executive Vanessa Antunes Rodrigues warned of the challenge of increased energy consumption caused by the expansion of artificial intelligence. "The digital economy also needs to be a sustainable economy. Innovating means finding ways to generate lasting value for people and the planet," she stated.

The Minister of the Comptroller General's Office (CGU), Vinícius de Carvalho, also highlighted the use of AI to prevent fraud in bidding processes. According to him, the Alice software has already allowed savings of R$ 1,25 billion in one year. “Organized crime tries to sign contracts with the public sector, and this involves corruption. We need technological tools to anticipate and block these practices.”

Social inclusion and voices from marginalized communities

CUFA co-founder Preto Zezé called for the presence of favela and periphery populations in major global climate debates. “It’s difficult to discuss solutions without the presence of those who live the problem at the table. The planet is one. The environmental crisis will affect the golf course and the shack,” he said.

At the end of the meeting, João Camargo, president of the Council of Esfera Brasil, summarized the spirit of the event: "Anyone who wants to talk about preservation needs to come here, see it up close, feel the forest and understand what it's like to live in the Amazon."