Kerry does not cite amounts for donation to the Amazon Fund – 02/28/2023 – Environment

The US government’s special envoy for the climate, John Kerry, reinforced this Tuesday (27) the US government’s willingness to contribute to the Amazon Fund, but avoided talking about values ​​and stressed that there are difficulties in the processing of proposals in the Congress of your country.

That’s why the American opened up the possibility of new fronts for raising funds, such as through the carbon market, financing through multilateral investment banks and also philanthropy.

Kerry stated that, in total, there are US$ 13.5 billion foreseen in proposals being processed in the US Congress, and part of these resources could be used for the Amazon Fund, if the measures were approved.

The US envoy participated in a meeting with the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva. The two issued a joint statement after the meeting and answered some questions from journalists. Kerry was asked specifically about any US contribution to the fund.

“We have a legislative proposal in the Senate that has a $4.5 billion target and we have another one in the House that has a $9 billion target, it’s bipartisan in both Houses, but we know there will be a struggle along the way, so We are also working with the multilateral development bank, we are also working with the carbon market,” said the North American.

These proposals deal with US involvement in measures to benefit environmental issues, without being specific to the Amazon.

Minister Marina Silva pointed out that a contribution to the Amazon Fund would be a novelty for the US government, which usually carries out its cooperation actions within the scope of its government agency, Usaid. She added that Kerry is committed to making the funds available, but is depending on Congress to do so.

“The United States has a very particular cooperation mechanism, which is through USAID. It is a very big innovation to contribute direct, non-renewable resources, and to do this within the ambit of the Amazon Fund”, he said.

“What we are dealing with is that the government will seek to make these resources viable, but this depends on the approval of the American Congress”, he added.

Marina also sought to make it clear, alongside Kerry, that cooperation involving the Amazon does not mean that the country is giving up its sovereignty.

“Our sovereignty imposes responsibilities and we understand the character that the Amazon has of balancing the planet”, he highlighted. “But we have the clarity of the sovereignty of that territory.”

John Kerry arrived in Brasilia on Sunday and since then has had a series of appointments with Brazilian authorities. He held a meeting at the Itamaraty Palace with vice president Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), with the secretary general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Laura Rocha, and with Marina herself.

This Tuesday, the former US senator also met with the president of the National Congress, senator Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG).

In early February, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva paid a visit to US President Joe Biden. On the occasion, the White House waved about US$ 50 million (R$ 260 million) for environmental cooperation – the value was considered disappointing by Brazilian negotiators.

_{The Planeta em Transe project is supported by the Open Society Foundations.}