• Brazil's Petrobras received a license to drill for oil near the Amazon River.
• Environmentalists criticize the approval as harmful to Brazil's climate leadership.
• President Lula supports drilling for economic benefits despite environmental concerns.
• Drilling is set to start immediately and will last up to five months.
• Critics argue this decision undermines efforts to eliminate fossil fuels ahead of COP30.

Brazil's state-run oil company, Petrobras, has been granted an exploration license to drill for oil off the northern coast of the Amazon River, a move met with considerable backlash from environmental advocates. The approval from Brazil's environmental agency IBAMA followed a rigorous five-year application process and is set to commence drilling in a block near Amapá. Environmentalists warn that drilling could pose significant risks, including potential oil spills that may affect the surrounding ecosystems, which are critical to global biodiversity, according to BBC and Channel News Asia.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has championed the approval, arguing that the revenues from oil exploration will be crucial for funding Brazil's climate transition and development efforts. Lula stated that Brazil is leveraging its oil resources responsibly, asserting, "We are following the law strictly," while emphasizing the need for energy security amid growing global energy demands. This stance has raised eyebrows as it contradicts Brazil's push for climate leadership ahead of the COP30 summit, which is set to take place from November 10-21, according to India Times.

Critics, including the Climate Observatory NGO, have characterized the decision as a "sabotage" to Brazil's leadership role at COP30, arguing that it undermines efforts to gradually phase out fossil fuels. Suely Araujo, a coordinator with the NGO, expressed concern over how Brazil can advocate for climate action while simultaneously expanding fossil fuel exploration. The approval coincided with significant tensions surrounding the environmental impact of such drilling in one of the world's most biodiverse regions, highlighted by experts from BBC and Channel News Asia.

Despite assertions by Petrobras that their drilling operations will not directly impact Indigenous communities or the coastline, there remains deep concern among environmental advocates regarding the long-term implications of such actions. The firm has indicated that drilling will last for approximately five months with potential further exploration in the region. Environmentalists have warned of the detrimental effects on local wildlife, particularly species vulnerable to the disruption caused by drilling operations, as stated by India Times.