G20 and COP 30 impact on green energy ambitions in South America

Brazil is poised to become South America’s leader of renewable energy endeavour and achievement over the next year and a half as the country takes its turn at the G20 presidency, a role that includes hosting the 2024 G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro in November.

A year later, Brazil be centre stage again as hosts of COP 30, welcoming world leaders to the Amazonian city of Belém, an event which is already shaping the country’s renewable energy ambitions.

How other nations in the region will fare during the same period is less easy to call, especially Argentina where new president, Javier Milei, has already implemented a 54% devaluation of the national currency and is planning a major reduction in energy subsidies.

Leading by example

For Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the path to COP 30 is crystal clear. He told COP 28 delegates in the UAE last year that Brazil is willing to lead by example in pursuit of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

“We have adjusted our climate targets, which are now more ambitious than those of many developed...