Norway will resume financial aid against deforestation in the Amazon in Brazil, frozen during the presidency of Jair Bolsonaro, the Norwegian Minister of the Environment announced this Monday to AFP after the victory of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the Brazilian presidential election.
“Regarding Lula, we noted that during the campaign he emphasized the preservation of the Amazon rainforest and the protection of the indigenous peoples of the Amazon,” said Espen Barth Eide.
“That’s why we look forward to getting in touch with your teams as soon as possible to prepare for the resumption of the historically positive collaboration between Brazil and Norway,” he added.
The Scandinavian country, the main provider of resources for the protection of the Amazon rainforest, suspended its aid to Brazil in 2019, the year Bolsonaro assumed the presidency.
During the far-right leader’s government, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon rose by 70%, a “scandalous” rate in the words of Barth Eide, who said his country had entered a “head-on confrontation” with Bolsonaro over the issue.
According to the minister, 5 billion Norwegian crowns (482 million dollars) are waiting to be used in the fund for the preservation of the Amazon rainforest.
Lula, president between 2003 and 2011, said on Sunday, after the announcement of his victory in the second round of the presidential election, that Brazil is willing to play a leading role against climate change and highlighted that the planet needs an “Amazon live”.
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