WORLD / AMERICAS
By Reuters Published: Apr 20, 2021 07:03 PM Brazil s updated national climate change plan would allow the country to step up forest losses to a rate 78 percent above those before President Jair Bolsonao took office and 20 percent above 2020 s levels, Brazilian researchers said.
A large amount of smoke from the illegal burning of the Amazon rainforest in Nova Progresso, Para, Brazil on August 15, 2020 Photo: VCGAs Bolsonaro prepares to take part in US President Joe Biden s international climate summit this week, Brazil s plan shows a lack of ambition to tackle climate change that could undermine global efforts, they said.
Bolsonaro s administration has overseen large-scale expansion of farming, ranching and mining in the Amazon and other natural areas of Brazil as the country pursues economic development. The president sent a letter to Biden on April 14 recommitting his country to eliminating illegal deforestation by 2030, as it originally promised under th