MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

On Amazon Day, Minister Swire praises Brazil as champion on climate change and tackling deforestation

Remarkably Brazil has reduced over 85% of its forestry emissions over the last decade - and cut Amazon deforestation rates by 82% over the same period.

Describing Brazil as a valued partner of Britain, and champion on climate change and tackling deforestation, Minister of State for Latin America, Hugo Swire, attended on Wednesday the Amazon Day 2015 at the Brazilian embassy where he also met with ministers Texeira, Levy and Coutinho who are in London for the first UK-Brazil economic and financial dialogue round.

 “It is a pleasure to join you on Amazon Day - and to talk about an issue so important to both our countries: Climate Change” said minister Swire also underlining the close economic and trade cooperation links between UK and Brazil.

“Thanks to the efforts of Minister Teixeira - and the impressive administration of Brazil’s environmental policy - Brazil is also a world leader on climate change and tackling deforestation”, which means remarkably Brazil has reduced over 85% of its forestry emissions over the last decade - and cut Amazon deforestation rates by 82% over the same period.

Likewise, pointed out minister Swire, these achievements - and Brazil’s recently announced “Intended Nationally Determined Contribution” of 37% emissions reductions by 2025 - 'makes it one of the most ambitious developing countries on climate change'.

But tackling deforestation and cutting emissions is not without its challenges, and requires financing, both public and private.

So, “I am pleased that a recent visit by Deputy Environment Minister, Mr. Gaetani, has enabled us to share our experiences on innovative policy and financial instruments that provide the targeted support that businesses need. And I hope we will strengthen this collaboration further”.

“If we are to truly address the global climate challenge we all face, it is vital that our governments do everything we can to channel private investment into low carbon technologies, forests and agriculture”.

In that line Prime Minister David Cameron announced at the UN General Assembly last month that the UK would increase the International Climate Fund to nearly £6 billion from 2016 to 2021, to support the poorest and most vulnerable countries in their transition towards a low carbon economy and to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Minister Swire said that funding from the UK on a range of forestry programmes is also supporting countries build capacity and put in place the changes required to tackle deforestation - not least, land-sector reform; addressing governance and illegal logging; and supporting community engagement.

So, “our work together in these areas is setting an important example in the run-up to the Climate Change Conference in Paris, a month from now”.

Finally UK and Brazil shared strengths; growing partnership on green finance, science and innovation; and the common desire to tackle the global threat of climate change that makes the UK-Brazil relationship so important for security and prosperity around the world”.