US wants 'global' fight against Amazon deforestation, says Kerry

“We will work together, not just bilaterally, but globally, to bring everyone to the negotiating table,” he said. Kerry in a press conference with the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva.

“No country can change things alone […] A big change is happening, more and more people understand that it is urgent, that it is not optional and that we have to work together to do much more than before”, he insisted.

Kerry also stated on Tuesday night (28) that he intended to return to Brazil to visit Amazon with Marina Silva, on a date to be confirmed.

The visit of American President Joe Biden's envoy to Brasília took place three weeks after President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's visit to the White House.

And, just as happened in Washington, the United States reaffirmed its desire to contribute to the Amazon Fund, whose main donors are Norway and Germany, although they have not yet defined figures.

"We are withpromehad to contribute to the Amazon Fund, but also with other entities, and to work bilaterally [with Brazil] in science and development”, he said Kerry, after his three-day visit to Brasília.

Questionated by a journalist about the amount of the contribution, Kerry spoke about ongoing negotiations in the North American Congress.

“We have a bill in the Senate with the objective of raising 4,5 billion dollars. Another in the Chamber of 9 billion dollars. But now we will have to fight” to make it happen, he explained.

Kerry he referred, in particular, to the “AMAZON21” bill, which provides for the creation of a 9 billion dollar fund for the preservation of forests in developing countries, not just for the Brazilian Amazon.

Marina Silva, in turn, recalled that there were “other instruments” to help preserve the Amazon, such as the purchase of carbon bonds.

At the end of January, during an official visit to Brasília, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that his country was willing to pay 200 million euros – R$ 1,1 trillion – for the Amazon Fund.

Amazon Fund receives R$3,3 billion in donations

The president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aloizio Mercadante, announced that the Amazon Fund has already received R$3,3 billion in donations, including R$1 billion from Norway and R$200 million from Germany. In total, the fund, managed by BNDES, accumulates R$5,4 billion, with R$1,8 billion already contracted.

Deforestation increased considerably during the term of former president Jair Bolsonaro, defeated by Lula in the October elections last year.

The president promeTeu, after his victory, would do everything possible to reduce illegal deforestation in the Amazon to zero by 2030, but insisted on the importance of international aid to achieve this objective.

(To AFP)

Read also

Lula faces the great challenge of keeping the Amazon 'alive'

President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva faces the immense challenge of meeting international expectations to stop the destruction of the Amazon, essential for combating climate change. The planet “needs a living Amazon”, he said on Sunday (30), in a victory speech after beating President Jair Bolsonaro in the second round of elections.

Deforestation of the Amazon: French bank accused of financing actions in Brazil

BNP Paribas is the target of legal action, brought by a series of NGOs that denounce the French financial institution for financing Marfrig, a giant in the Brazilian agri-food sector. The company is accused of contributing to deforestation, appropriation of indigenous lands and forced labor, according to a complaint made by NGOs, released this Monday (27).