Speaking at the UN Climate Change Conference, better known as COP28, in Dubai, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva stated that Brazil intends to use its impending participation in the OPEC+ oil cartel to strive toward ending the use of fossil fuels.

Lula told activists on Saturday, “I think it’s important for us to participate in OPEC+, because we need to convince the oil-producing countries that they need to prepare for the end of fossil fuels.”

“And preparing means taking advantage of the money they earn to make investments, so that continents like Africa and Latin America can produce the renewable fuels they need, especially green hydrogen,” he stated.

On Thursday, OPEC+ announced that Brazil would be joining the cartel, which has more than 20 members. Brazil has consistently expanded oil production over recent years.