Brazil and US sign climate change deal
Presidents Dilma Rousseff and Barack Obama 
During a meeting between Presidents Dilma Rousseff and Barack Obama held Tuesday (Jun 30) in Washington, Brazil and the US reached an agreement affirming both governments' commitment to mitigate the causes of climate change. To achieve this goal, the two countries agreed to raise the production of renewable energy to a target of 20 percent of the total.
The Brazil-US Joint Statement on Climate Change commits Brazil to implementing policies to eradicate illegal deforestation and bring about an ambitious increase in the carbon dioxide trapped through reforestation and forest restoration. Brazil has further pledged to bring 12 million hectares of forest back to life by 2030.
In the statement, the two heads of state acknowledged the need to boost the use of renewable energy to help stimulate the economy in both countries. They also agreed to work towards an agreement at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to be held late this year in France.
The expansion of cooperation in matters related to the sustainable use of land, clean energy, as well as new and better forest and agricultural land management models was also among the topics in the agreement. In addition, Brazil and the US promised to strengthen the ties between universities and educational institutions in the two countries.
Brazil and the US are also expected to join efforts in the generation of safe and sustainable nuclear energy, sharing expertise and adapting to climate changes in such areas as biodiversity and ecosystems, infrastructure, agriculture, food safety, and water resources. Projects are many, with goals ranging from reducing water consumption to cutting down on pollutants, apart from educational and awareness campaigns.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Brazil and US sign climate change deal
