Fighting Climate Change: Biden Announces Key Plans at Brazil G20 Summit
President Joe Biden made history as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon rainforest on Sunday while he visited for the G20 summit. Speaking from the world’s largest tropical rainforest, he reaffirmed America’s commitment to its “clean energy revolution” and announced bold initiatives to combat climate change.
Biden’s trip to the Amazon was not just symbolic. He highlighted the urgent need to protect this critical ecosystem which is often called the “lungs of the world.”
Biden met with Indigenous leaders during his visit and participated in a welcoming ceremony where he emphasised the Amazon’s role not just as the “lungs of the world” but as the “heart and soul of the world.” He called the fight against climate change a fight for humanity, stressing that the preservation of the Amazon is critical for the planet’s future.
Key Announcements from Biden
Biden unveiled several initiatives aimed at preserving the Amazon and addressing climate challenges:
- Increased Climate Funding: The U.S. is set to reach $11 billion in international climate financing in 2024. This marks a sixfold increase since Biden took office.
- Support for the Amazon Fund: Biden announced an additional $50 million contribution to the Amazon Fund, which supports rainforest conservation. This builds on last year’s pledge of $500 million for the fund.
- New Financial Coalition: A coalition was launched to encourage at least $10 billion in public and private investment by 2030. This funding will support land restoration and eco-friendly economic projects in the Amazon.
- Tree-Planting Loans: A $37.5 million loan will support large-scale planting of native tree species on degraded lands in Brazil.
Challenges Ahead
Biden’s announcements come amid uncertainty about the continuation of these initiatives. President-elect Donald Trump who has dismissed climate change as a “hoax” is unlikely to prioritise such efforts. Environmental advocates fear that funding commitments like the Amazon Fund might stall under the new administration.
Despite these challenges, Biden expressed hope and determination. He said that the clean energy revolution in the U.S. is irreversible because it benefits people across party lines. The question now he added is which governments will stand in the way and which will seize the opportunities for a sustainable future.
