UK to donate to Brazil’s Amazon fund, says Rishi Sunak | World News

British Prime Minister Rich Sunak In a major development, he announced on Friday that his country would contribute 80 million pounds ($101.15 million) to the Amazon fund Brazil As the South American country tries to win more donors for an initiative aimed at combating deforestation.

Sunak’s commitment during meeting with Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula Downing Street’s da Silva follows a similar pledge made by US President Joe Biden earlier this year, joining previous donors Norway and Germany.

“We have a lot of common interests,” Sunak told Lula at the meeting, citing higher trade and the fight against climate change. “I am pleased to announce that we will invest in your amazon The Fund and I salute your leadership in this initiative. “

The prime minister later tweeted that the UK would donate £80m.

Lula thanked Sunak and said it was time to “normalize” relations between Britain and Brazil, adding that “more can be done on trade”.

He reiterated that countries with large forests need support – especially from developed countries – to protect them, while reaffirming Brazil’s commitment to zero deforestation by 2030.

First launched in 2009, the fund works to combat deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and promote sustainable development. It was reactivated this year by Lula after his predecessor, Jair Bolsonarofrozen in 2019.

British Environment Secretary Therese Coffey told Reuters in an interview in January after Lula took office that Britain was considering joining the initiative.

Biden announced last month that he would ask Congress to allocate $500 million over five years to contribute to the fund and related activities. According to Brazil, France and Spain expressed interest in contributing.