Norwegian officials confimed a new donation equivalent to USD 50 million (more than NOK 500 million) to help Brazil reduce deforestation in the Amazon. It’s the first donation since 2018, when Norway cut funding because of the former Brazilian president’s disregard for the climate effects of deforestation.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, who announced the renewed funding in the midst of the ongoing UN Climate Summit in Dubai, cited the re-elected President Lula’s ability to already cut deforestation by half this year. “That’s important for Brazil and for the world,” Støre said, adding that he thinks climate-related funding to preserve the Amazon is “more important than ever.” It’s thus time, according to the goverment, to reinstate the funding that ended up being frozen in 2019.
It means Norway is once again providing money to reduce carbon emissions elsewhere, while it controversially continues to develop its own carbon-emitting oil and gas industry at home. The funding stems from budget negotiations between Støre’s Labour Party and its government partner, the Center Party, that resulted in around NOK 10 billion earmarked for new climate measures while maintaining Norway’s oil and offshore industries.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
