In a post on the social network X, the president—without mentioning him by name—responded to statements made by the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate during an interview with TV Globo last night, contrasting that position with the policies his government has implemented to address the effects of climate change.

Flavio downplayed the role of human activity in global warming, asserting that extreme weather events are the result of natural cycles. “To me, what is happening today are extreme weather events. Excessive heat, excessive rain, excessive drought. I believe these are cyclical effects,” he maintained.

When asked what measures he would adopt to tackle the effects of climate change, the candidate stated that “the best way for us to protect the environment is to provide basic sanitation for the population,” linking this policy to public health.

The president maintained that while sanitation is a fundamental policy, it is insufficient to address a climate emergency—hence the specific actions being implemented in Brazil.

These include millions of reais allocated to water supply, sewage, and waste management projects; the creation of a Situation Center to assess the potential impact of the El Nino phenomenon in 2026 (also backed by financial support); and the New Growth Acceleration Program, which covers urban drainage and hillside stabilization projects.

Also included are the strengthening of the National Center for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters systems and the reactivation of the Amazon Fund.

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