Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he wants French President Emm...
BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday he wants French President Emmanuel Macron to withdraw the “insults” made against him before he considers accepting a $20 million offer from the G7 nations to help fight forest fires in the Amazon.
His response to the fires is being closely watched by world leaders increasingly concerned by climate change, and could threaten Brazil’s trade deals and powerful agribusiness sector, which is a crucial driver of its recession-plagued economy. Macron, who has accused Bolsonaro of lying about climate change policy, called the remarks “extremely disrespectful” to his wife.On Tuesday, Bolsonaro said he would only countenance accepting G7 money if Macron retracted his earlier comments.
FILE PHOTO: Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro speaks during the Brazilian Steel Conference in Brasilia, Brazil, August 21, 2019. REUTERS/Adriano Machado/File Photo The Brazilian president responded on Twitter: “We’re fighting the wildfires with great success. Brazil is and will always be an international reference in sustainable development.”Leaders of the G7 made the aid offer after discussing the fires ravaging the world’s largest tropical rainforest - often dubbed “the lungs of the world”.
Meanwhile, Norway’s environment minister called on major Norwegian companies with business in Brazil to ensure they do not contribute to destruction in the Amazon. In a meeting, the minister urged representatives of oil firm Equinor, fertilizer-maker Yara and aluminium producer Norsk Hydro to make sure their supply chains are not linked to deforestation.The number of blazes recorded across the Brazilian Amazon has risen 79% this year through Aug. 25, according to Brazil’s space research agency.
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