The United Kingdom joined the Amazon Fund during a meeting with President Lula, who is in London for the coronation of King Charles III.| Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/Secom

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, announced this Friday (5) that the country will make a donation of approximately R$ 500 million to the Amazon Fund. Joining the program occurred during a meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), who is in London to attend the coronation of King Charles III.

According to the prime minister, membership is a “recognition of work and leadership” in preserving the environment, including the commitment to zero deforestation by the year 2030.

“I am pleased that the UK is contributing £80 million to the Amazon Fund – so we can help stop deforestation and protect biodiversity,” said Sunak for the social media.

Lula thanked the donation and said that “the rich countries need to fulfill the commitments defined in the COPs and the countries with large forests need to receive support” to preserve them.

The United Kingdom’s accession to the Amazon Fund comes two weeks after the President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced that he will ask Congress to approve US$ 500 million for the program. Norway and Germany already participate in the fund.

The meeting between Lula and the prime minister also discussed trade relations and “world peace”, as the Brazilian president said. Bilateral trade between Brazil and the United Kingdom totaled US$ 6.45 billion last year, according to Apex-Brasil, with growth expected after an increase of 19.3% between 2021 and 2022.