The official announcement of the US intention to join the Amazon Fund was released hours after Lula’s meeting with Biden.| Photo: Andrew Harrer/ EFE / EPA / Bloomberg pool

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) returns to Brazil this Saturday (11), after a two-day trip to the United States, with the promise that the country’s government will work with the American Congress to join the Amazon Fund.

The act was announced by the White House on Friday night (10) hours after Lula’s meeting with President Joe Biden. According to the US government statement, Biden says he will “work with Congress to provide funds for programs to protect and conserve the Brazilian Amazon, including initial support for the Amazon Fund, and to leverage investments in this critical region.” (see in full)

The value of this initial contribution was not disclosed, but people close to the president told the newspaper O Globo and BBC Brasil that it will amount to US$ 50 million (R$ 260 million).

The White House statement also states that the two presidents will reinforce the actions of the United States-Brazil Working Group on Climate Change (CCWG), created in 2015. “They decided to instruct the CCWG to meet as soon as possible to discuss areas of cooperation, such as combating deforestation and degradation, improving the bioeconomy, reinforcing the implementation of clean energy, strengthening adaptation actions and promoting low-carbon agricultural practices”, he says.

Lula’s trip to the United States lasted two days and also included meetings with left-wing parliamentarians and union leaders. According to the official agenda of the Presidency of the Republic, the delegation arrives in Brasília around 20:10.