The Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, said this Thursday (20) that the United States’ contribution to sustainability projects in Brazil and the fight against global warming could reach US$ 2 billion. According to the minister, the adviser to the US government on climate issues, John Kerry, stated that the contribution of US$ 500 million to the Amazon Fund, announced by President Joe Biden, is just the initial phase of resource allocation. “The conversation I had with Secretary John Kerry is just the beginning of efforts so that we can leverage, according to him, something around US$ 2 billion, adding up all the action fronts, not only for the Amazon Fund ”, said the minister. In addition to the US$500 million for the Amazon Fund, the US government will earmark US$1 billion for forest restructuring in Latin America and US$50 million for reforestation. The funds are from the US Treasury and need Congressional approval to be released. Marina Silva stressed that the Biden government is committed to approving the amount promised by congressmen. During President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s visit to the United States in February, Joe Biden said he would contribute to the Amazon Fund and finance sustainability projects in Brazil. “This is a very big achievement. Both for what it means to have the United States contribute to the fund, and for the volume of resources”, said the minister, in an interview to the press. According to the minister, the resources may be used, initially, to combat deforestation and fires and territorial organization. The goal is for the fund to return to its original focus, of financing research, technology, sustainable development projects, bioeconomy and low-carbon agriculture “towards a new development model, and not just command and control actions”. After Biden’s announcement, Marina Silva hopes that other countries will be encouraged to contribute to the Amazon Fund. Germany and Norway are already part of the group of donors. Safra Plan Marina Silva also said that the Safra Plan 2023/24, the main financing policy for national agriculture, will bring conditions to encourage rural producers to adhere to sustainable practices. According to the minister, producers who succeed in transitioning to low-carbon agriculture (with less gas emissions) will be able to obtain benefits and better financing conditions. “Whoever adheres to the Safra Plan, even if it is in an initial phase, will adhere with steps to be fulfilled over time. You can even start at square one, assume the commitment that you will take initial steps, then intermediate measures until you get a situation that has a reduction in interest rates based on the results achieved, ”she explained.
Agência Brasil
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