There was a full decade of back-and-forth when the lungs of the world are in question. But now, the world’s three largest rainforest nations, Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, formally launched a partnership. They will collaborate on forest preservation.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was elected president of Brazil at the end of October, would seek a partnership with the two other major rainforest nations. He intends to put pressure on the rich world to fund forest conservation.
The rapid destruction of rainforests, which serve as carbon sinks due to their dense vegetation, releases planet-warming carbon dioxide, jeopardizing global climate targets. Reforestation of previously deforested jungles has the added benefit of removing greenhouse gases that are already present in the atmosphere.
Three countries possess more than half of rainforest mass
Representatives from the three countries, which account for 52% of the world’s tropical rainforest, signed the joint statement. It was done ahead of the G20, or the Group of 20 industrialized nations meeting. The meeting will be in Indonesia on Tuesday.
Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba from the Democratic Republic of the Congo prior to the signing of the joint statement said that south-to-south cooperation between Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is very natural.
She added the three countries face the same challenges and have the same chance to be the solution to climate change.
Compensation for reducing deforestation
The alliance stated in the agreement that countries must receive compensation for reducing deforestation and preserving forests as carbon sinks.
The countries will also work together to develop a new sustainable funding mechanism. It should assist developing countries in preserving biodiversity. As well it will increase funding through the United Nations’ REDD+ program for reducing deforestation.
The G20 talks take place during the second and final week of the COP27 United Nations climate summit in Egypt.
There Lula’s environmental adviser Izabella Teixeira stated that Brazil would seek the participation of other countries in the Amazon basin, which spans nine nations.
On that occasion, she stressed that forests and nature are important. She also believes that without Amazon protection, the whole Earth cannot have climate security. By the way, Teixeira, also served as Lula’s environment minister during his previous presidency, which ended in 2010.
Initiative on rainforest saving started in Glasgow
Teixeira believes that Brazil should encourage other countries to join forces for the same cause.
Until now, talks on the rainforest alliance were slow. The reason for that – as Teixeira said – was institutional difficulties.
The three countries met at last year’s climate summit in Glasgow, which injected momentum for the talks. At least it says their joint statement.
They have come to fruition in the final weeks of Jair Bolsonaro’s right-wing presidency before Lula takes office on January 1.