The Current Brazil wants to drill for oil AND cut emissions
Nov 18, 2025
Susan Ormiston, CBC's international climate correspondent, reports from COP30 in the Amazon. She discusses Brazil's controversial new offshore oil project, highlighting tensions between local Indigenous communities fearing environmental harm and others hopeful for economic growth. Ormiston reveals criticism over Brazil's dual commitment to protect the climate while expanding oil production. The conversation delves into the broader implications for COP30 and the global struggle between economic needs and urgent climate responsibilities.
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Drilling Amid COP Sparks Contradiction
- Brazil approved Petrobras to drill an exploratory well off the Amazon coast while hosting COP30.
- That contradiction exposed tensions between climate leadership and new fossil fuel development.
Vast Reserves Attract Big Players
- Estimates suggest up to 30 billion barrels in the equatorial margin, about half in Foz do Amazonas.
- Multiple companies, including Chevron and a Chinese consortium, are now invested in the region.
Indigenous Fears Of Spills And Livelihood Loss
- Indigenous communities near Oiapoque fear spills could contaminate rivers, fish and hunting grounds even from distant offshore wells.
- They also face poverty and limited services, making the risk trade-offs acute for locals.