As of: 01/30/2023 6:18 p.m
Brazil’s rainforest was cut down quickly under ex-President Bolsonaro. To protect him, Germany is now giving 200 million euros. Chancellor Scholz is meeting with the new President Lula today.
Germany wants to provide 200 million euros to protect the rainforest in Brazil. In addition to climate protection, the goal is also to improve the situation of indigenous population groups in the Amazon region, explained the German Development Ministry. Indigenous people are also considered good guardians of the forest because of their original way of life with subsistence farming.
Around 93 million euros are to flow into reforestation, 31 million euros into a new fund for sustainable forest use and forest protection. Another 35 million euros are also to flow into the fund, they were frozen during the tenure of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro. The reason was the massive deforestation of the rainforest during this time.
In addition, millions are each pouring into helping small and medium-sized businesses become more energy efficient, renewable energy advice and supply chain reviews.
Schulze: It won’t work without Brazil
Development Minister Svenja Schulze met the ministers for indigenous affairs and the environment in the capital Brasília and, according to the ministry, agreed to work closely with them. The conversion to a more sustainable economy will only succeed “if it is social at the same time, if it is fair and if individual regions or population groups are not left behind,” said Schulze. Climate protection will not work without Brazil, so a lot depends on it.
Scholz meets Lula
Chancellor Olaf Scholz will meet the new President Lula da Silva in the afternoon (local time). It should also be about new impetus for the stalled free trade agreement between the EU and the South American confederation of states Mercosur.
Lula had announced that he would make forest and climate protection one of the priorities of his reign. He is also pushing for an agreement on the free trade agreement.