By Jake Spring and Lisandra Paraguassu
BRASILIA, Feb 28 (Reuters) – The world can only meet its goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius if it protects the Amazon rainforest, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said on Tuesday in Brazil. .
Brazil’s new president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, took office on January 1, stepping up cooperation with the United States on climate change and deforestation.
Deforestation hit its highest level in 15 years under right-wing Jair Bolsonaro, who rolled back environmental protections.
Lula and his American counterpart, Joe Biden, pledged to collaborate on climate change during a meeting held at the White House earlier this month. Regarding deforestation, Washington announced its intention to contribute to the Brazilian Fund for the Amazon, which supports conservation projects in the jungle region.
“The truth is that unless the Amazon is protected from those who would deforest and abuse it, we cannot keep the temperature down to 1.5 degrees (Celsius),” Kerry said, referring to the climate goal of the Paris Agreement. .
Protecting the area is vital in curbing climate change due to the large amount of greenhouse gases absorbed by its trees.
Speaking to Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva, Kerry said the United States was still considering how much to contribute to the Amazon Fund.
Kerry said the US Senate is considering a bill with $4.5 billion in forest conservation funding, while the House of Representatives is considering a bill with $9 billion.
But he also said the Biden administration “will have to fight” to get these proposals through Congress.
(Reporting by Jake Spring in Sao Paulo and Lisandra Parguassu and Anthony Boadle in Brasilia; Editing in Spanish by Javier Leira)