World News | Great Britain to Donate USD 100 Million to Brazil's Amazon Fund
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Britain pledged Friday to give about USD 100 million to the Brazilian government's fund to protect the Amazon rainforest, as the South American country beefs up protection of the environment under its new leadership.
Sao Paulo, May 6 (AP) Britain pledged Friday to give about USD 100 million to the Brazilian government's fund to protect the Amazon rainforest, as the South American country beefs up protection of the environment under its new leadership.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took office in January, announced the contribution to the Amazon Fund on Friday after meeting in London ahead of Saturday's coronation of King Charles III.
Also Read | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse Seen Over Nepal Sky on Full Moon Day.
The fund was launched in 2009 to fight against deforestation and build sustainable initiatives in the Brazilian rainforest, a vital natural reserve soaking up fumes from oil, natural gas and coal in South America. The committee that governs it was partially dismantled when rightist President Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019, and rebooted by the leftist Lula this year.
"President Lula has exhibited great leadership on climate change," Sunak said on Twitter, adding that he was pleased that Britain would contribute 80 million pounds (USD 101 million) to the fund, "so we can help stop deforestation and protect biodiversity."
Also Read | COVID-19 No Longer an Emergency, but Not Going Anywhere, Says WHO.
Earlier this year, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to join Norway and Germany in resuming donations to the initiative that had been suspended during Bolsonaro's presidency.
Biden said in April he would seek congressional approval to send USD 500 million over five years to the Amazon Fund. However, administration officials have been pessimistic about getting congressional approval for climate support abroad, especially with a Republican-controlled House. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)