Joe Biden made history on Sunday as the first sitting US president to visit the Amazon rainforest, drawing attention to the dangers of global warming as he continues to clash with incoming President-elect Donald Trump’s dismissive stance on climate change.
Biden’s visit to Manaus, Brazil, included a tour of the Amazon and Rio Negro rivers, which have been severely impacted by the region’s worst drought in decades. Accompanied by Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre, Biden warned of the rainforest’s dire state due to deforestation-driven climate shifts.
During his four-hour stop, Biden announced an additional $50 million contribution to the Amazon Fund, doubling the US commitment to $100 million. Last year, he had pledged $500 million, but only a fraction of that has been delivered so far.
Biden also met with indigenous leaders at the Museum of the Amazon and praised Brazil’s efforts under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to end deforestation by 2030. The rainforest’s conservation is crucial for mitigating climate change, as it absorbs vast amounts of carbon dioxide.
The visit comes ahead of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, where global governance and climate change will be key topics. However, Biden’s climate initiatives face uncertainty with Trump’s return to office in January. Trump has vowed to reverse Biden’s climate policies, prioritise fossil fuel production, and cut regulations on gasoline-powered vehicles.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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