U.S. Senators urge Biden not to release money to Brazil without seeing progress

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The senators demanded that any support for the preservation of the Amazon be conditional on significant progress in reducing deforestation. In addition, they warn that failure to meet reduction targets will affect support for Brazil’s bid to join the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development), one of President Bolsonaro’s main goals.

The request was made Friday, April 16th, only days before Biden is to meet the Brazilian and other heads of state at a climate summit organized by the U.S., which will take place online April 22nd-23rd.

On Wednesday, April 14th, Bolsonaro sent a letter to his U.S. counterpart pledging to end illegal deforestation by 2030, hoping to secure billions of dollars in aid to promote sustainable development in the Amazon.

International cooperation on the environment was one of the main points of the new White House leader’s campaign pledge to step up the fight against climate change. Biden proposed that Brazil be granted a US$20 billion package to fight deforestation – and that the country should suffer repercussions were it to fail.

At the time, Bolsonaro branded Biden’s comments as “regrettable,” accusing him of being an imperialist. Now, in the letter sent last week, he said he supports sustainable development with economic alternatives for the region’s impoverished residents and that to meet his goals he will need foreign resources, adding that help from the U.S. government would be “very welcome.”

Bilateral talks with Brazil on the environment began on February 17th, led by John Kerry, the Biden administration’s special climate envoy.

The 15 senators, which include ex-presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, said they support cooperation on the Amazon between the two governments, but questioned Bolsonaro’s credibility.

“President Bolsonaro’s rhetoric and policies have effectively given the green light to dangerous criminals operating in the Amazon, allowing them to dramatically expand their activities,” they said in a letter.

According to the text, the partnership “can only be possible if the Bolsonaro government begins to take Brazil’s climate commitments seriously – and only if it meaningfully protects, supports, and engages with the many Brazilians who can help the country meet them.”

Brazil’s spending to protect the environment has been declining for years, reaching a record budget cut of 25% under the Bolsonaro administration, the lowest level in two decades. Therefore, U.S. senators argue that the United States should wait for a sign of success before releasing aid.

Source: Veja

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