Brazil’s newly installed president Lula Da Silva has signed an agreement reopening the Amazon Fund. It happened during a TV broadcast from the presidential palace on Sunday evening. The agreement means that Norwegian rainforest billions will again be used to fight deforestation in the Amazon. – There has been a shocking increase in deforestation in the Amazon. This is a problem for Brazil and the world. It is the world’s largest rainforest, says climate and environment minister Espen Barth Eide to news. RELEASES MONEY: Norway’s climate and environment minister Espen Barth Eide releases a large sum of money for Brazil’s president. Photo: Eivind Molde / news The Amazon Fund was frozen in 2019 when former President Jair Bolsonaro dismissed the board of the fund. Now the new president has reinstated the board of the Amazonasfondet. Lula was installed on 1 January 2023, after a narrow victory. He won with 50.9 percent ahead of Jair Bolsonaro with 49.1 percent. Facts about Norway’s rainforest investment Norway contributes up to NOK 3 billion annually to measures to preserve forests in tropical countries. The aim is to reduce climate emissions from deforestation and preserve species diversity in the rainforests. The initiative was launched at the UN climate meeting in Bali in 2007. Norway has entered into agreements with Brazil, Indonesia and a number of other developing countries regarding payment for reduced greenhouse gas emissions from forests. The main principle behind the agreements is that the countries receive support when they can prove that deforestation has been reduced. The decline is measured in relation to estimates of what deforestation would have been without new measures. Cooperation with Brazil was put on hold in 2019, after President Jair Bolsonaro came to power in the country. Sources: Ministry of Climate and the Environment, IPCC, NTB NOK 6.8 billion Norway is the largest player in the fund. It was opened in 2008, but frozen in 2019 when former president Jair Bolsonaro removed the board of the fund. Now the new president has reinstated the board of the Amazonasfondet. NOK 6.8 billion is in the fund, according to Eide. This is now being released in the fight against deforestation. In 2018, the Norwegian rainforest initiative received criticism from the National Audit Office. The effect of the measures and control on the economy was considered uncertain. Owned: – Equivalent to 90 years of Norwegian emissions Deforestation in the Amazon has increased sharply under Bolsonaro. – When Lula last ruled, especially from 2004 and ten years on, the reduction that Lula got was the equivalent of 90 years of total Norwegian emissions. So there are enormous dimensions to this, says Eide. DEFORESTATION: The Amazon Fund was frozen under the recently resigned president Jair Bolsonaro. Photo: BRUNO KELLY / Reuters He believes the money that comes from Norwegian taxpayers is well spent. – There are few things that make more sense to do with our climate money than making sure to take care of rainforests, says Eide. – Why aren’t there enough more regulations that Brazil has to make? – Brazil must do the main job itself. But as Lula pointed out, the state finances in Brazil are in bad shape. So getting access to this money quickly can strengthen the environmental police, preserve indigenous areas and ensure a more sustainable way of producing food, Eide believes.
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Norway releases billions to the Amazon – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
