Speaking during landmark climate change hearings at the International Court of Justice, Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado said Brazil was doing more than its historical emissions would require from the country.

"Brazil's commitment... extends far beyond what could be reasonably expected based on our historical responsibility for global temperature rise," Machado said.

Despite the economic and social challenges faced by Brazil, the country has adopted a plan that seeks to cut emissions across the whole developing economy, he said.

"The ambition, scale and scope of Brazil's effort reflect a level of ambition that often surpasses those of historically high-emitting developed countries," he said.

In November, Brazil announced plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions more drastically than originally projected.

Instead of the earlier target of reducing emissions by 59 percent from 2005 levels by 2035, it will aim for a 67 percent reduction, said the left-leaning government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

The new target would allow emissions of roughly 850 million to one billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) by 2035, down from 2.4 billion tons in the baseline year of 2005.

- 'Minimally sufficient' -

"This is the ambition of a nation that faces much higher costs of capital and less fiscal space than developed countries to finance its just transition towards low-carbon and climate-resilient development," said Machado.

However, international NGOs have said that Brazil's efforts do not go far enough.

Romain Ioualalen, Global Policy Campaign Manager at Oil Change International, said Brazil had missed an opportunity to show climate leadership, noting that it planned to increase oil and gas production by 36 percent by 2035.

"Brazil's initial climate target for 2035 is minimally sufficient but falls short of true ambition," said Andreas Sieber, 350.org Associate Director for Global Policy and Campaigns.

Brazil will host the next UN global climate conference, COP30, next November in the Amazonian city of Belem.

The country is "acutely aware of the devastating impacts of climate change", Machado said.

"Our people have been enduring extreme weather events, from severe droughts in the north to relentless rain and floods in the south."

The historic hearings at the ICJ will see more than 100 countries and organisations present their views on climate change -- the highest number ever.

The UN has asked the ICJ for a so-called "advisory opinion" on nations' obligations to tackle climate change and the legal consequences for states that cause damage to the climate.

The ICJ will likely take months if not years to deliver its opinion, which critics say would have limited impact given its non-binding nature.

Opening the proceedings on Monday, a representative from Vanuatu, which has spearheaded the drive to bring the case before the ICJ, said that the future of the planet was at stake during the hearings.

"This may well be the most consequential case in the history of humanity," Vanuatu's representative for climate change, Ralph Regenvanu, told the 15-judge bench.