July 8, 2025 from Rio de Jainero Brazil
On Monday at the Brics meeting in his country, Brazilian President Lula da Silva condemned climate denialism and unilateral actions, warning that they are eroding progress and sabotaging the planet’s future.
“A decade after the Paris Agreement, funding is still lacking for the planned just transition, which is essential for building a new cycle of prosperity,” Lula said in his opening speech at the final debate of the BRICS leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro.
He stressed that achieving this goal requires tripling renewable energy sources and doubling energy efficiency, and insisted that a just transition toward the end of fossil fuel use and deforestation is “urgent.”
Brazil — a global green energy powerhouse but also a major oil producer — is using this BRICS summit to push for a common position among the bloc’s 11 permanent members ahead of the COP30 global climate summit, set to take place in the Brazilian city of Belem in November.
Protecting the global environment, however, will be challenging, as the United States has taken a sharp turn in its climate policy since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. The U.S. has again withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and is promoting fossil fuels.
In this context, Lula noted that “80% of carbon emissions are produced by fewer than 60 companies, most of them in the oil, gas, and cement sectors.” He also blamed the financial market for promoting such projects, which counter to sustainability goals.
“In 2024, the world’s 65 largest banks committed US$869 billion to the fossil fuel sector,” the Workers’ Party leader stressed.
He also pointed out that global warming is advancing “at a faster pace than expected,” and that tropical forests like the Amazon are nearing their “point of no return,” jeopardizing their ability to regenerate.
Even so, Lula maintained BRICS members and the Global South nations are in a position to “lead a new development paradigm without repeating the mistakes of the past.”
“We will not be mere suppliers of raw materials. We need to access and develop technologies that allow us to participate in every stage of the value chain,” the Brazilian president stated.
China Condemns Trump’s Threat against BRICS as ‘Arbitrary and Counterproductive’
China Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning
On Monday, China condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose an additional 10% tariff on BRICS countries, calling it an arbitrary and counterproductive measure that undermines international cooperation and global economic development.
“BRICS cooperation is open and inclusive, and does not target any country. China opposes using tariffs as a tool for coercion and pressure,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during her regular press briefing in Beijing.
The statement came on the second and final day of the BRICS summit, which began Monday in Rio de Janeiro. The economic bloc, initially formed by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is holding its latest gathering amid growing geopolitical tensions.
When asked about China’s potential response to any new U.S. tariffs, Mao Ning reiterated China’s opposition to trade wars and the use of tariffs as coercion. She warned that unilateral tariffs “do not serve the interests of any party.” “There are no winners in a trade war,” the Chinese diplomat emphasized.
On Sunday, Trump posted on his social media platform that any nation aligning itself “with the anti-American policies of the BRICS” would face the additional tariff. “There will be no exceptions,” he warned.
That same day, BRICS leaders released the summit’s final declaration early. In it, the bloc rejected trade protectionism and condemned recent bombings in Iran, while avoiding direct confrontation with Trump.
“We express serious concerns over the increasing use of unilateral tariff and non-tariff measures that violate World Trade Organization rules and distort trade,” the document stated. However, it did not directly name Trump or the United States when addressing the more sensitive issues.
Zhou Mi, an economist at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, said Washington’s tariff threat reflects its fear of BRICS’ rise as an emerging economic force.
“Cooperation among developing countries does not seek to exclude anyone, but rather to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and sovereign development. The United States sees this as a threat to its hegemony, not as an opportunity for collaboration. The attempt to use tariffs as a political and economic pressure tool is not only counterproductive—it runs counter to the global trend toward integration and multipolarity,” Zhou told the Global Times.
BRICS Countries Approve Principles for Global AI Governance on the Final Day of the Rio de Janeiro Summit
On the final day of the Summit reached their declaration that reflects the Global South’s vision for this strategic technology.
Leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Iran and Indonesia, along with partner states such as Bolivia, Vietnam and Cuba, discussed the transformative potential of AI and the need for ethical and inclusive regulations.
The declaration, which reflects the Global South’s vision for this strategic technology, includes 10 governance principles detailed below:
Innovation and Sustainability: AI should promote advancements in productivity and quality of life, with a focus on sustainable development.
Inclusive International Governance: The BRICS nations support a global framework led by the United Nations that respects national sovereignty and prioritizes the needs of countries in the Global South.
Ethical and Non-Military Use: BRICS members advocate for the responsible development of AI, in alignment with national laws and international standards.
Technological Sovereignty: Each country should set its own regulations, protect data and strengthen its digital economy.
Equitable Access: Data governance must be fair, secure and inclusive, ensuring equitable access to AI for developing nations.
Open Science: BRICS members support accessible international models and standards, including the removal of barriers for smaller economies.
Public Services: AI should support digital infrastructure, healthcare, education and environmental protection, while helping to reduce inequality.
Labor Rights and Education: The technology should respect decent work standards and be integrated into education, with an emphasis on digital literacy and critical thinking.
Inclusive Systems: AI systems must be transparent, free from bias, human-supervised and respectful of cultural diversity. Security and Regulation: AI development must prioritize safety, prevent malicious uses and be based on global collaboration for responsible regulation.
Source: Telesur