Last month in Egypt at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Brazil's president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva reaffirmed his pledge to make Brazil a global leader in addressing climate change and deforestation. However, when Lula takes the reins on 1 January, he will step into a situation that is quite different from when last he was president (2003-2010). At that time, he prioritized science and education in all government actions and guided Brazil to a prosperous social state and sustainable economy. This time, he will face a much different local and global scenario. The world is still going through an unprecedented health crisis, and like other countries, Brazil needs to establish new ways of tackling the consequential social, educational, environmental, and economic problems. This will be especially challenging given that since 2016, the country has taken the opposite direction of most governments, cutting investments in education at all levels and in science, technology, and innovation (ST&I). The question is how Lula can immediately address the serious poverty and hunger crisis in Brazil while also restoring the environment and a competitive and equitable economy to the country.