The Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has told developed countries to put their money where their mouth is when it comes to protecting the world’s remaining tropical forests, as major rainforest nations demanded hundreds of billions of dollars of climate financing and a greater role in how those resources are spent. The declaration came on the second and final day of Lula’s Amazon summit in Belem, part of efforts to reposition Brazil as a political and environmental heavyweight on the world stage. Eight Amazonian countries published a vow to unite to prevent the rainforest region being commandeered by criminal groups, but activists voiced frustration at its failure to commit to halting deforestation by 2030
‘Nature needs money’: Lula tells rich countries to pay up and protect world’s rainforests
