On Tuesday, Brazil and France initiated a joint investment programme aimed at safeguarding the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and Guyana, committing 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) from public and private sources over four years.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced the initiative during his visit to Brazil, where he met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Belem.
In a joint statement, both leaders pledged to collaborate in protecting tropical forests, aiming to halt Amazon deforestation by 2030 to mitigate global warming. This commitment precedes Brazil’s hosting of the COP30 climate talks in 2025. Their agenda includes developing financial instruments and market mechanisms for environmental preservation.
Macron and Lula met with Indigenous elders and went to see a sustainable chocolate production plant. Raoni Metuktire, an Indigenous leader, received the Legion of Honour from Macron for his environmental advocacy.
A 1,000-kilometre railway called Ferrograo, supported by soy growers, alarmed Raoni because of what she saw as its detrimental effects on Indigenous communities. After disagreements during President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration, ties between France and Brazil are mending despite prior hostilities. Officials from France voiced hope for the revival of bilateral relations.
