Norway will resume aid to Brazil against deforestation after Lula's victory

Norway will resume financial aid against the deforestation of the Amazon in Brazil, frozen during the Presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, the Norwegian Minister of the Environment announced this Monday (31) to AFP, after the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT ) in the Brazilian presidential election.

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Gabriela Gonçalves

October 31, 2022 11:24 AM

“In relation to Lula, we observed that during the campaign he emphasized the preservation of the Amazon rainforest and the protection of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon,” said Espen Barth Eide. “That’s why we look forward to getting in touch with your teams as quickly as possible to prepare for the resumption of the historically positive collaboration between Brazil and Norway,” he added.

Bolsonaro's re-election could further worsen deforestation in the Amazon, experts say

A calculation made at the request of Folha de S.Paulo by a group of researchers estimates that, if President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) is re-elected, deforestation in the Amazon could reach more than 27 thousand km² in 2026, reaching the worst levels ever observed since the beginning of monitoring. The projection takes into account linear growth, with the same rate observed in the last 3 years.

The Scandinavian country, the main supplier of resources to protect the Amazon rainforest, suspended its aid to Brazil in 2019, the year in which Bolsonaro assumed the Presidency.

During the current government, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon increased by 70%, a “scandalous” rate in the words of Barth Eide, which is why his country entered into a “confrontation” with Jair Bolsonaro over the issue.

'Carta da Terra' analyzes the management of environmental resources in Brazil

The Earth Charter, published this week by Earth News, debates the issue of resource management. It tells about an unprecedented study, led by economist Alessandra Cardoso, regarding the funds that allocate — or should allocate, by law — resources to the environment. The series called “Pathways for the Financing of Brazil's Environmental Policy” notes that Brazil created an entire architecture for financing programs, not only for inspection, but for promoting sustainable prosperity – however, this system was dismantled, the funds were emptied and distorted.

According to the minister, 5 billion Norwegian kroner (482 million dollars) are waiting to be used in the Amazon forest preservation fund.

Lula, president between 2003 and 2011, stated last Sunday (30), after the announcement of his victory in the second round of the presidential election, that Brazil is willing to play a leading role against climate change and highlighted that the planet needs of a “living Amazon”.

(With AFP)

This post was last modified on October 31, 2022 11:50 pm

Gabriela Gonçalves