On November 17th, President Biden visited the Amazon rainforest while en route to the Group of 20 summit, where he announced an additional donation of $50 million to the Amazon Fund. He became the first sitting U.S. president to visit the Amazon rainforest.
After attending the APEC summit, Biden flew from Lima, Peru to Manaus, Brazil. Manaus is the largest city in the Amazon region.
In Manaus, he met with local leaders to discuss conservation efforts in the rainforest. He then headed to Rio de Janeiro to prepare for the G20 summit, where issues such as poverty, global governance, and climate change were on the agenda.
During his time in the Amazon, Biden took a helicopter tour on Marine One to observe the confluence of the Amazon River and the Rio Negro in Manaus. Due to the most severe drought in decades, the water levels here have sharply declined.
Biden’s entourage included Brazilian scientist and Nobel laureate Carlos Nobre, who warned that deforestation had altered the weather patterns crucial for maintaining the climate of the rainforest, potentially rendering the Amazon irreparable.
Biden also visited the Amazon Museum in Manaus and met with indigenous leaders. During his visit to the museum, he signed a proclamation designating November 17th as “International Conservation Day.”
Scientists emphasize the importance of protecting the Amazon in curbing climate change, as the trees in the rainforest absorb significant amounts of CO2, a major driver of global warming.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pledged to end deforestation in the country’s rainforest by 2030 and called on wealthy nations to contribute through the Amazon Fund operated by the Brazilian National Development Bank.
While in Manaus, Biden announced an additional $50 million donation to the Amazon Fund, bringing the total U.S. commitment to $100 million.
Last year, Biden stated his intention to request $500 million from the U.S. Congress to support the Amazon Fund. However, by July of this year, the U.S. had only fulfilled one-tenth of that commitment.
The White House announced that the Biden administration plans to expand U.S. climate financing sixfold to $11 billion annually over the next four years, with this new donation being a part of that effort.
With Trump’s election, Biden’s climate financing plan may face challenges. Trump referred to climate change as a hoax and intended to roll back many of Biden’s signature climate legislations, using those funds to extend tax cuts enacted during his first term.
The incoming Trump administration also aims to significantly increase U.S. oil and natural gas production, and eliminate regulations imposed by Biden to reduce the number of gas-powered vehicles on the road.
(This article referenced a report from Reuters)