President Joe Biden embarked on a historic trip to Brazil this past weekend, becoming the first American president to visit the Amazon rainforest. During his visit, Biden focused on his administration’s policies aimed at combating climate change. According to Voice of America correspondent Patsy Widakuswara, Biden is also attending the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, where world leaders will discuss climate, poverty reduction, and other global issues.
The president witnessed firsthand the environmental damage in the Amazon, including deforestation, erosion, and fire damage to the world’s largest rainforest.
In Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state, President Biden announced that his administration had exceeded its target of contributing $11 billion annually to international climate policies. This financial commitment addresses one of the key demands of developing countries in the fight against climate change.
“The fight to protect our planet is a fight for humanity, for future generations. It may be the only existential threat to all nations and to humanity as a whole,” President Biden remarked.
Biden also met with leaders of indigenous populations, announcing the allocation of a $50 million fund for various climate initiatives, including contributions to the Amazon Fund.
From Manaus, Biden will head to the G20 summit, where he will focus on workers’ rights and sustainable economic growth that does not harm the environment. Diplomatic sources have expressed concern that climate change efforts by the U.S. could significantly diminish under the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement during his first term.
President Biden emphasized that he is leaving a strong foundation for his successor to continue efforts on climate change, should they choose to do so. He praised the success of clean energy policies, calling the transition to clean energy an economic “revolution” that cannot be undone.
“There are those who might attempt to deny or delay the clean energy revolution happening in America, but no one can reverse it,” Biden declared.
President-elect Trump has reportedly planned to remove existing tax incentives for those purchasing electric vehicles, which are part of Biden’s clean energy and climate policies. Trump has also frequently referred to climate change as a “hoax.”
Despite these concerns, Brazilian presidential advisor Celso Amorim stated that he would not prejudge the actions of the upcoming U.S. administration. “I judge actions. We will see later what stance they will take and then we will talk. For now, President Biden has been a good partner for Brazil and President Lula da Silva,” Amorim remarked.
At the G20 summit, President Biden will also be part of launching the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Additionally, he is expected to make a significant “historic” commitment to fulfilling the needs of the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank, aimed at assisting the world’s poorest countries.
Many diplomats remain concerned that U.S. support for such initiatives may not continue under a potential Trump administration, which, during its first term, had reduced foreign aid funding.
