Lula, DiCaprio discuss climate, Amazon protection in Brazil

Actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio met with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Wednesday to discuss climate change, tropical forest conservation and other issues. File Photo by Rune Hellestad/ UPI | License Photo Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva met with actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio at the presidential palace to discuss climate change, Indigenous territories and financing for tropical forest conservation, Lula said. The first meeting between the two was held Wednesday at the Palácio do Planalto and lasted about 40 minutes. First lady Janja Lula da Silva and members of the Brazilian government also attended. Eu e Janja recebemos nesta quarta, no Palácio do Planalto, a visita do ator Leonardo DiCaprio. No encontro, que durou cerca de 40 minutos, conversamos sobre os impactos das mudanças climáticas e as iniciativas do governo brasileiro de proteção ao meio ambiente, com redução... pic.twitter.com/YgwcZ17tLG— Lula (@LulaOficial) September 2, 2026 "We discussed the impacts of climate change and the Brazilian government's environmental protection initiatives, including a record reduction in deforestation, combating illegal mining and the demarcation of Indigenous lands," Lula said in a social media post. Lula said DiCaprio described his first visit to the Xingu region 25 years ago, his friendship with Indigenous leader Chief Raoni Metuktire and the conservation work conducted by Re:wild in Brazil, Africa and Asia. DiCaprio helped launch Re:wild in 2021. The organization works with Indigenous communities and local partners to protect and restore forests and other ecosystems. In 2023, it reached an agreement with Brazil's Environment Ministry to help recover Amazon areas damaged by illegal mining, UOL reported. Re:wild CEO Wes Sechrest attended the meeting and praised Brazil for creating the Tropical Forest Forever Facility, which uses investment returns to compensate countries that preserve their tropical forests while providing returns to investors, Lula said. Brazil launched the fund during the U.N. climate summit in Belém in November 2025. Five countries initially announced more than $5.5 billion in commitments, while 53 governments endorsed its launch declaration, according to the Foreign Ministry. The initiative aims to mobilize $125 billion, with at least 20% of payments designated for Indigenous peoples and local communities. Lula also promoted Brazil's use of renewable energy and biofuels. He cited the country's current fuel blends of 32% ethanol in gasoline and 15% biodiesel in diesel. Renewable sources accounted for 86.8% of Brazil's electricity supply in 2025, according to the state-owned Energy Research Office. Official satellite data estimated that Amazon deforestation fell 11.08% in 2025 to about 2,238 square miles, the lowest level in 11 years, according to Brazil's National Institute for Space Research. Janja said she discussed the role of women in protecting territories and how the bioeconomy could create jobs and income without destroying nature. She gave DiCaprio a framed photograph of Raoni taken by Brazilian photographer Ricardo Stuckert, Folha de S.Paulo reported. Before arriving in Brasilia, DiCaprio visited Raoni and an Indigenous community in Mato Grosso on Saturday and later traveled to the Pantanal wetlands, according to the local outlet Olhar Direto. Read More Brazilian exports to U.S. fall to three-year low Latin America's commodity boom and the lost opportunity Latin America's real crisis is ethical, not political