The focus in the Amazon needs to be on investment, not just donations, Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva told the Associated Press in an interview Tuesday.

His comments ahead of COP 30 in Belem are linked to The Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) which will officially launch at the conference.

“I don’t want to use the word donation anymore. ‘Oh, I’ll give 50 million dollars.’ It’s good to give 50 million dollars, but it’s nothing. ‘Oh, I’ll give 30 million dollars.’ Fine, I appreciate it, but it’s nothing, because we need billions to solve our problem. It’s not about solving the government’s problem, it’s about solving the problem of the people who live there.” said Lula.

Lula also spoke about the government's approval of exploratory drilling by state-run oil-giant Petrobras near the mouth of the Amazon River.

The Equatorial Margin deposit off the coast of Brazil, which stretches from Brazil’s border with Suriname to a part of the country’s Northeast region, is believed to be rich in oil and gas.

"We already have authorization to do the test," he said. "If we find the oil that we believe is there, everything will have to start over again to get a license.”

Lula also spoke about the warm reception guests would have at COP 30 in the Amazonian city of Belem.

However there have been issues with accommodation with hotel prices skyrocketing.

A lack of affordable housing could have an impact on participation from certain groups.

AP video shot by: Lucas Dumphreys

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