SG: It's a great pleasure for me to visit the Usina Santa Adelia, as a part of my ongoing continuing efforts to learn more about the ways and means of addressing climate change. I have visited Antarctica just a couple of days ago, and I have seen enough alarming signs of global warming. Now I am here to see how national governments are addressing these challenges by developing renewable and alternate sources of energy.

I am very much impressed by what I have seen – the efforts of the Brazilian Government and business enterprises to address global warming issues by developing renewable and clean energy sources.

Much has been said in addressing climate change. We've talked about mitigation, cutting greenhouse gases, adaptation, technology and financing mechanisms. This is clearly one of the very good examples in the technology area in helping to address climate change. Brazil has been a leading champion in addressing climate change issues. If it was not for the Rio Summit in 1992, the international community would not have done much in addressing these issues.

I have heard more briefings on what Brazil has been doing. In fact, the world does not fully appreciate how far Brazil has come. Brazil is the quiet green giant. It leads the world in renewable energy. It has one of the cleanest energy economies in the world. Brazil is one of the few nations to successfully produce biofuels on a large scale.

This ethanol plant is one of many green technologies that show promise in offsetting global warming. The world should pay more attention to what Brazil is achieving.

I know that controversy surrounds this biofuels movement. Some fear that land currently used to grow food will instead be turned over to fuel?the issue of food security. Others worry that forests will be cut down to make way for biomass plantations. Still more worry about the effects on the environment and biodiversity.

Clearly, biofuels have great potential for good and, perhaps, also for harm. It is up to national governments to responsibly balance the social costs and benefits.

At this time, I would like to commend the efforts of the provincial government of the State of São Paulo, which has made great efforts toward prohibiting the burning of sugar cane fields to reduce the environmental impact of biofuels processing.

I was encouraged to hear from Mr. [Marcos] Jank [President of the Sugarcane Industry Union] that by 2014, all sugarcane cutting will be done by mechanical harvesting.

As Secretary-General of the United Nations, I would hope that appropriate consideration and measures will be given to workers here for their well-being and sanitation needs,(as well as) their comfortable work conditions.

We need to be creative in advancing green technologies and climate change innovation. But it is vital that we start?that we experiment and find out what works and what doesn't. Brazil's efforts will offer useful lessons to us all.

I am very glad to have learned a lot about biofuels.

I am looking forward to meeting with President Lula to discuss this issue and all other issues concerning our joint and common efforts to address climate change issues. I sincerely hope that in Bali, in December, the world will be able to agree on a road map and agree to launch the negotiations on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The road to Bali comes through Brazil. Muito obrigado.

Q: (in Portuguese)

SG: First if all, for your first question, I know this aspiration of the Brazilian people and Government to sit in the Security Council as permanent members. But what I'd like to tell you at this time is that this needs full consensus opinions among the Member States. But as Secretary-General, I'll try my best to facilitate this ongoing consultation among the Member States.

For your second question, I know, as I said, that there are some reservations, even criticisms, that this may have an impact on food security. I believe that it is important to continue research for developing the technologies on renewable and alternate sources of energy, in addressing global warming issues. In that regards, biofuels hold great promise in developing renewable sources of energy. At the same time, due and appropriate consideration should be given. I think it will be healthy to have a broad debate and research on this matter. While scientists need to be creative in research and development? we also need to look at the issues of food security through pricing and all other {matters}related to sustainable environment.

Q: (in Portuguese)

SG: As you know, the United States and some other major countries have been staying outside the Kyoto framework. This time, during the high-level event at the General Assembly of the United Nations on Septemberཔ, all the leaders of the world recognized the importance, significance and urgency of this issue, and there is a consensus agreement that, while we appreciate individual countries' measures and initiatives, all these issues should be integrated into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Therefore, I am convinced that this time all the countries of the international community will join their efforts to address this issue. Global warming does not respect national borders. It affects all human beings, on the whole Planet Earth. This is a common responsibility, and we must [act] on the basis of a historic responsibility.

Q: (in Portuguese)

SG: As we have to see how the leaders of the international community will come out of the Bali meeting. The recent ministerial meeting in Bogor, Indonesia, was promising, and I am going to continue my consultations until I go to Bali to consolidate the political will of the international community.