Brasília – Brazil has announced officially that it is withdrawing its candidacy to host COP25 (Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), which was scheduled for November 11 to 22 and would hold negotiations for the implementation of the Paris Agreement. According to a text sent yesterday (27) by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) to the United Nations, the withdrawing of the candidacy was due to “fiscal and budget constraints” that would be passed over to the next administration.
“Having in mind the current fiscal and budget constraints, which should persist into the near future, and the transition process to the newly elected administration, to begin on January 1, 2019, the Brazilian government feels compelled to withdraw its candidacy to host the COP25.”
The statement also reports that the Brazilian government “conducted a thorough analysis of the requirements” to host the COP25. “The analysis focused on the financial requirements to hold the event.”
In the beginning of October, Itamaraty celebrated that to hold COP25 in Brazil “reflected the consensus of Brazilian society on the importance and urgency of action that contribute to fight against climate change.” This Monday (26), in an article published by Paraná-based newspaper Gazeta do Povo, ambassador Ernesto Araújo, appointed by president-elect Jair Bolsonaro as Foreign Minister of the new administration, criticized what he called “climate scaremongering.”
Reaction
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved with the environment and native peoples bemoaned the withdrawing of Brazil’s candidacy. In a statement, the Climate Observatory warned that Brazil could lose the leading role in climate discussion. “With the renouncement of international leadership in this area, also going away are business opportunities, investments and job creation,” warns the Observatório.
This week, Foz do Iguaçu’s local authorities and the newly-elected governor of Paraná, Ratinho Junior, sent a letter to Brasília supporting Paraná’s candidacy to host COP25. According to the document, the event could generate BRL 400 million (USD 106.48 million), with around 35,000 people.
USD 106 million
Environmentalist and activist Natalie Unterstell will travel do Poland to take part in COP24, from December 8 to 15. She said that she hopes the decision is reversed. The Brazilian is one of the global ambassadors of the Homeward Bound program, which aims to boost women’s participation in Sciences and Politics.
Translated by Sérgio Kakitani
