“Now we’re going straight into this, after a somewhat hesitant start, I would say,” Economy Minister Paulo Guedes said about the federal government’s role in environmental issues. He participated this Friday (5), by video, in an event broadcast at the Brazil stand at COP26, a world climate conference that runs until the 12th in Glasgow, UK.
“We had issues of a different order, the problems were land invasion and this ended up spilling out as an image of a country that does not preserve natural resources, which is not a correct image,” he said.
At his side, in BrasÃlia, was the minister of the Environment, Joaquim Leite, praised by Guedes.
“Joaquim Leite arrived at the right time, he is putting Brazil back in the discussion,” he said. The new minister took over in May, replacing Ricardo Salles, who was investigated by the Federal Police for facilitating timber smuggling.
After nearly three years of government marked by the dismantling of environmental policies from past administrations, increased deforestation and international demands on the subject, Brazil arrives at COP26 assuming new commitments on forests and reducing methane emissions and with a constructive posture in the negotiations of regulation of the Paris Agreement.
During this period, the Minister of Economy was also charged with environmental policies during economic forums.
Last year, in Davos, he was criticized for associating the devastation of the Amazon with poverty. Now, it signals a change in thesis and cites the creation of a carbon credit market and the implementation of green interest rates, which would be lower for low-carbon agriculture, as opportunities for green economic growth.
“It’s good for us to find a way to remunerate those who preserved it,” he said.
The minister also recognized the importance that environmental issues have gained in the economic discussion. “I sat down with the secretary of the US Treasury and she started asking about the environment: ‘How can we help?’ [A reunião] with the European Union as well.”
The event, which did not admit questions, was held at the CNI (National Confederation of Industry) studio in BrasÃlia and broadcast to the official Brazilian stand at COP26 —also set up in partnership with the agriculture and industry confederations.
The journalist traveled at the invitation of Instituto Clima e Sociedade.
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