Ed Miliband, the UK Energy Secretary, has placed climate change at the forefront of his agenda during his inaugural visit to Brazil. The trip aimed to strengthen the UK's
ties with Brazil, a crucial partner in advancing the global clean energy transition, as Brazil prepares to assume the G20 presidency later this year and host COP30 in 2025.
Miliband emphasized the importance of climate leadership in safeguarding both UK and global citizens from the escalating climate crisis. His visit underscored the UK's commitment to collaborating with Brazil to achieve ambitious climate goals during its upcoming G20 presidency and COP30.
On the first day of his visit (Sunday, 18 August), Miliband toured the Amazon Fund's initiatives in Abaetetuba, where he witnessed the Fund's support for the Quilombola communities. In 2023, the UK pledged £115 million to the Amazon Fund, which aids in developing sustainable practices for small farms and indigenous peoples, recognized as the best stewards of the forests.
The following day (Monday, 19 August), Miliband visited Pecem Port, a massive industrial complex that recently received $35 million to expand its green hydrogen production, backed by UK-supported Climate Investment Funds.
Throughout his visit, Miliband engaged in a series of bilateral meetings and discussions with Brazilian government officials and leaders in the finance and energy sectors in Brasilia (20-21 August). A central focus of these discussions was industrial decarbonization, a key theme of his trip.
After a recent meeting in London, Miliband held talks with Ana Toni, Brazil's National Secretary of Climate Change. He also met with André Corrêa do Lago, Secretary for Climate, Energy, and the Environment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Rui Costa, Minister for the Cabinet Office.
On his final day in Brazil, Miliband met with Climate Minister Marina Silva and Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira. He also engaged with major businesses, hosting a renewables-focused roundtable with key energy companies such as Shell Brazil, BP, Rolls Royce, Subsea 7, ERM, and the British Chamber of Commerce. The discussion centered on the economic opportunities presented by the clean energy transition.
Additionally, Miliband participated in a separate roundtable focused on mobilizing finance for the clean energy transition, attended by representatives from the Brazilian Ministry of Finance and the Brazilian Development Bank. This follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the UK and the Brazilian Development Bank, aimed at fostering cooperation on this critical issue.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:
“The UK Government has a duty to protect current and future generations in the UK and around the world from the devastating effects of the climate crisis.
“In my first international visit to Brazil, I have been loud and clear that the UK stands ready to work with our Brazilian partners to keep 1.5C alive in this critical decade.
“From hosting this year’s G20 Presidency to next year’s COP30, Brazil is in a unique position to drive climate action on the world stage. As home to the largest rainforest on Earth, the potential to deliver real change here is huge. From speaking to business and energy leaders and fellow Ministers, we have discussed how we can tackle this shared challenge together and encourage others to match our clean energy ambitions.”