Lula goes to Germany, defends Brazil's biofuels, and criticizes the European Union rule that could hinder clean energy, even with ethanol reducing emissions by up to 90% and the country reaching 50% renewable energy by 2025.

Lula goes to Germany, defends Brazil’s biofuels, and criticizes the European Union rule that could hinder clean energy, even with ethanol reducing emissions by up to 90% and the country reaching 50% renewable energy by 2025.

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 20/04/2026 at 16:33

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In a speech in Germany, Lula defended Brazilian biofuels, criticized environmental regulations of the European Union, and stated that Brazil has already reached 50% renewables in its matrix by 2025, while Europeans project this same level only for 2050.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defended the trajectory of Brazilian biofuels on Monday (20) in Hanover during the Brazil-Germany Economic Meeting and criticized the environmental regulation adopted by the European Union. In addressing the topic, he stated that Brazil has already reached 50% renewables in its matrix by 2025, while the EU projects this goal for 2050.

Defense of Brazilian biofuels

Lula stated that sugarcane ethanol produced in Brazil generates more energy per hectare planted and has one of the lowest carbon footprints in the world. He also mentioned that the fuel reduces emissions by up to 90% compared to gasoline.

In his speech, the president presented biofuels as part of Brazil’s position in the energy transition. He associated this performance with the use of renewable sources in the national production process.

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Criticism of the European Union regulation

When discussing the European situation, Lula stated that transportation is currently one of the main bottlenecks for decarbonization in Europe. Nevertheless, he criticized the fact that the European Union is revising its regulation on biofuels with proposals that, according to him, ignore sustainability practices in the use of Brazilian land.

The president also recalled that in January, a unilateral carbon calculation mechanism came into effect. He said that this model disregards the low level of emissions from the Brazilian production process based on renewable sources.

Clean energy and opportunities in Brazil

Lula stated that these initiatives could hinder the supply of clean energy to European consumers at a critical moment. He added that raising environmental standards is necessary, but criticized the adoption of criteria that, in his words, ignore other realities and harm Brazilian producers.

In conclusion, he declared that Brazil wants to stop being a developing country to become a developed country. He also stated that the country will not waste the opportunities opened by the energy transition and invited investors interested in cheaper, cleaner energy and biofuels to bet on the future in Brazil.

Lula goes to Germany, defends Brazil’s biofuels, and criticizes the European Union rule that could hinder clean energy, even with ethanol reducing emissions by up to 90% and the country reaching 50% renewable energy by 2025.

In a speech in Germany, Lula defended Brazilian biofuels, criticized environmental regulations of the European Union, and stated that Brazil has already reached 50% renewables in its matrix by 2025, while Europeans project this same level only for 2050.

Defense of Brazilian biofuels

Criticism of the European Union regulation

Clean energy and opportunities in Brazil

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Lula goes to Germany, defends Brazil’s biofuels, and criticizes the European Union rule that could hinder clean energy, even with ethanol reducing emissions by up to 90% and the country reaching 50% renewable energy by 2025.

In a speech in Germany, Lula defended Brazilian biofuels, criticized environmental regulations of the European Union, and stated that Brazil has already reached 50% renewables in its matrix by 2025, while Europeans project this same level only for 2050.

Defense of Brazilian biofuels

Criticism of the European Union regulation

Clean energy and opportunities in Brazil

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