A new report reveals that Brazil's offshore fossil fuel exploration undermines its climate leadership, with significant environmental impacts and unfulfilled energy transition promises.

A report by SkyTruth has raised alarms about Brazil's offshore fossil fuel exploration, revealing that it jeopardizes the country's climate leadership ahead of the UN Climate Summit (COP30). The study identified 179 probable oil slicks along the Brazilian coast since 2017 and noted an 81% increase in fossil industry vessel traffic from 2012 to 2023. Methane emissions from oil and gas operations have surged, equivalent to the annual emissions of 6.9 million vehicles. The report criticizes Brazil's continued reliance on fossil fuels, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas like the Amazon River mouth, which threatens marine ecosystems and Indigenous communities. As Brazil aims to be a climate leader, the findings highlight contradictions in its energy policies and the urgent need for a genuine transition to sustainable energy sources.