President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Sunday (Apr. 19) advocated a clean energy matrix in partnership with Europe and the protection of jobs amid the advance of artificial intelligence.

During a visit to Germany, Lula spoke at the opening of the world’s largest industrial fair, Hannover Messe. He again criticized the effects of the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran, which he described as “madness.”

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Lula said Brazil can help the European Union reduce energy costs and decarbonize industry. “To this end, it is essential that the bloc’s rules take into account the clean energy mix used in our production processes.”

Accompanied by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as government representatives and business leaders from both countries, Lula argued that it is necessary to counter “false narratives” about the sustainability of Brazilian agriculture. He was applauded several times during his speech.

“Creating additional barriers to access for biofuels is counterproductive, both environmentally and from an energy perspective,” Lula noted.

The president said that in 2026 Brazil will launch a “robust program” prioritizing the green economy and Industry 4.0, at a critical moment in global geopolitics marked by paradoxes.

“Artificial intelligence makes us more productive, but it is also used to select military targets without legal or moral parameters,” he added.

Defending workers

Regarding the labor market, Lula said the country has the lowest unemployment rate in its history and that he supports ending the six-day workweek, reducing working hours to guarantee two days of rest.

Lula urged business leaders and researchers to consider the global impact on workers as artificial intelligence technologies evolve.

“If artificial intelligence delivers the benefits we seek, we must remember that behind every invention there is a human being. If people have no place in the job market, the world will only get worse,” he pointed out.

“The madness of war”

Later in his speech, Lula stated that Brazil is among the countries least affected by “the madness of the war with Iran.” He added that the government has taken domestic measures to minimize the impact, given that the country imports about 30 percent of the diesel it consumes.

The president also condemned global inequality, noting that USD 2.7 trillion is spent on wars. He called on the permanent members of the UN Security Council to take responsibility for addressing this reality. The Council has five permanent members: the United States, China, Russia, France, and the United Kingdom.

Deforestation

Lula drew renewed applause when he reaffirmed Brazil’s commitment to achieving zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. “Over the past three years, we have reduced deforestation in the Amazon by 50 percent and in the Cerrado by 32 percent.”

The president emphasized that Brazil prioritizes sustainability in the fuel sector. “We have already adopted a 30 percent ethanol blend in gasoline and a 15 percent biodiesel blend. We produce biofuels sustainably, without compromising food production or clearing forests,” he explained.

He also highlighted that 90 percent of Brazil’s electricity comes from clean sources and that the country has the potential to produce the world’s cheapest green hydrogen.

Lula mentioned the potential for increased mining of critical minerals to support decarbonization and digital transformation. “With only 30 percent of our mineral potential mapped, our country already has the world’s largest reserves of niobium, the second-largest reserves of graphite and rare earth elements, and the third-largest reserves of nickel.”

He stressed that he does not see Brazil as a “mere exporter” of minerals, but instead seeks international partnerships that include technology transfer.