Brazil working with Biden on climate, Amazon deforestation, says foreign minister

(Reuters, 5 Mar 2021) Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest hit a 12-year high in 2020, when an area seven times the size of London was cut down.

The Brazilian government and the Biden administration are working together on climate change, an area that appeared to be the main hurdle to good relations, Brazil's Foreign Minister Ernesto Araujo said on Friday.

Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro had developed a close alignment with former U.S. President Donald Trump and shared his disdain for climate change issues and international accords.

But that has changed now, according to Araujo, speaking remotely to the Council of the Americas hemispheric business forum.

"Something that was regarded as an impediment... is totally out of the way. We are now working together... as key partners towards a successful COP26 and fully implementing climate agreements," Araujo said, referring to the COP26 United Nations climate summit scheduled for later this year.

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Reuters, 5 Mar 2021: Brazil working with Biden on climate, Amazon deforestation, says foreign minister