Lula and Macron announced a billion-euro plan for the Amazon rainforest

Macron is on a three-day visit to Brazil. On Tuesday, he met with Lula in the city of Belém, where the UN COP 30 climate conference will take place next year.

Tuesday’s meeting between the two presidents focused on environmental protection. Macron awarded the Legion of Honor to indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire.

“I consider Lula my brother, Macron my son,” said Metuktire, who called on both statesmen to support his candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize and the return of land to indigenous peoples.

A famous indigenous chief from the Amazon visited Paris

Cocktail

Combine development with environmental protection

Lula and Macron announced the creation of a new plan for “one billion euros of public and private investment over the next four years”. The plan is to cover the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and French Guiana and, among other things, to strengthen the decision-making powers of the indigenous peoples who live in the Amazon region.

The main goal is to combine economic development and environmental protection in the Amazon rainforest.

“We want to convince those (countries) that have always deforested to make a significant contribution to the protection of forests to the countries that still have them,” Lula said.

Lula has made it a goal of his presidential mandate to significantly reduce deforestation in the Amazon, which is caused by the spread of livestock and other agricultural activities. Under Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who pushed for greater economic use of the Amazon rainforest, the pace of deforestation increased significantly.

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Near and Middle East

In the first year of Lula’s government, the rate of forest destruction decreased, which the government attributes to, among other things, tougher penalties for illegal activities. Brazil has committed to completely eradicate deforestation by 2030.

Macron’s visit now continues in Rio de Janeiro and will focus more on industrial and military relations between France and Brazil. At the Itaguaí shipyards, Macron and Lula will attend the launch of the French Scorpène-class Tonelero submarine. Brazil is building three of the four ordered submarines in its shipyards based on French plans and technology.

Brazil would also like to cooperate with France on the construction of Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine, but Paris is still very cautious about the transfer of nuclear technology, writes the France 24 website with reference to the AFP agency.

Anyway, Macron is the first French president in 11 years to visit Brazil. He is trying to create a “new beginning” in the mutual relations of the two states after the disputes with Lula’s predecessor Bolsonaro.