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Today, within Brazil's Amazon region, the Belém summit opens ahead of the UN's 30th climate summit (Cop30). Leaders have been gathered by me world leaders during the period before the conference to ensure collective dedication to acting with the urgency that the environmental emergency requires.

If we fail to move beyond speeches into real action, public trust will diminish – not just in climate conferences, but in multilateralism and international politics more broadly. This is the reason for convening officials to the rainforest: to make this the “Cop of truth”, the occasion where we prove our collective dedication's gravity toward Earth.

Humanity has shown its ability to overcome great challenges when it acts together and scientific guidance. We protected the ozone layer. Worldwide actions during the Covid-19 crisis showed that decisive global action is possible when there is courage and political will.

Brazil hosted the Earth Summit in 1992. We approved the conventions on climate, biodiversity and desertification, and principles were embraced that established a new paradigm for preserving our planet and our humanity. During the last three decades, these meetings have yielded key accords and targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions – from ending deforestation by 2030 to tripling renewable energy capacity.

More than three decades later, global attention returns to Brazil to address the climate issue. There's a reason why Cop30 is being held in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. This is an opportunity for politicians, diplomats, scientists, activists and journalists to witness the reality of the Amazon. We want the world to see the true state of the forests, the planet’s largest river basin, and the millions of people who live in the region. Cops cannot be mere showcases of good ideas or yearly meetings for delegates. They should serve as encounters with actuality and of effective action to tackle climate change.

To confront this crisis together, financial support is essential. And we must recognise that the concept of shared yet varied duties stays as the fixed basis of any climate pact. That is why the global south demands increased resource availability – not out of charity, but as fairness. Wealthy nations have gained the most from the carbon-based economy. They must now rise to their responsibilities, not just through pledges but by repaying what they owe.

Brazil is fulfilling its role. Within just two years, Amazon deforestation has been cut by half by us, showing that concrete climate action is possible.

In Belém, we will launch an innovative initiative to preserve forests: the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF). Its novelty lies in functioning as a financial investment tool, not a donation mechanism. The TFFF will reward those who keep their forests standing and those who invest in the fund. A genuine win-win approach to tackling climate change. Leading by example, Brazil has pledged $1 billion to the TFFF, and we expect equally ambitious announcements from other countries.

We also set an example by being the second nation to present a new nationally determined contribution (NDC). Brazil has vowed to cut its emissions from 59% to 67%, including all emission types and all sectors of the economy. With this mindset, we urge all nations to present equally ambitious NDCs and to execute them thoroughly.

Shifting energy sources is crucial for achieving Brazil's climate goals. Our energy matrix is among the cleanest in the world, as 88% of our power is renewable. We excel in biofuel production and are advancing in wind, solar and green hydrogen energy.

Channeling oil earnings to fund a fair, structured energy shift is vital. Over time, global petroleum firms, such as Brazil's Petrobras, will evolve into energy providers, because a growth model based on fossil fuels is unsustainable.

People must be at the centre of political decisions about climate and the energy transition. We must recognise that society's most at-risk groups are the most affected by the impacts of climate change, which is why just transition and adaptation plans must aim to combat inequality.

It's crucial to remember that two billion individuals have no access to clean technologies and fuels for cooking, and over 673 million face hunger. In response, we are introducing in Belém a statement on hunger, poverty, and climate. Our pledge to combat climate change must be directly linked to the fight against hunger.

It is equally essential that we advance the reform of global governance. Currently, international cooperation is hindered by the stagnation of the UN security council. Created to preserve peace, it has not stopped conflicts. Hence, it is our responsibility to fight for the reform of this institution. During Cop30, we will push for establishing a UN climate council connected to the General Assembly. This would form a fresh governance framework with the force and legitimacy to ensure that countries deliver on their promises, and a practical move towards overcoming the present deadlock in global cooperation.

At every climate conference, numerous commitments are made but see too few real commitments. The era of declarations of good intentions has ended: the moment for implementation plans is here. That is why today we begin the "truthful Cop".