Bras\u00edlia \u2013 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\u2019s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) to the United Nations, the withdrawing of the candidacy was due to \u201cfiscal and budget constraints\u201d that would be passed over to the next administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement also reports that the Brazilian government \u201cconducted a thorough analysis of the requirements\u201d to host the COP25. \u201cThe analysis focused on the financial requirements to hold the event.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the beginning of October, Itamaraty celebrated that to hold COP25 in Brazil \u201creflected the consensus of Brazilian society on the importance and urgency of action that contribute to fight against climate change.\u201d This Monday (26), in an article published by Paran\u00e1-based newspaper Gazeta do Povo, ambassador Ernesto Ara\u00fajo, appointed by president-elect Jair Bolsonaro as Foreign Minister of the new administration, criticized what he called \u201cclimate scaremongering.\u201d<\/p>\n
Reaction<\/strong><\/p>\n Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) involved with the environment and native peoples bemoaned the withdrawing of Brazil\u2019s candidacy. In a statement, the Climate Observatory warned that Brazil could lose the leading role in climate discussion. \u201cWith the renouncement of international leadership in this area, also going away are business opportunities, investments and job creation,\u201d warns the Observat\u00f3rio.<\/p>\n This week, Foz do Igua\u00e7u\u2019s local authorities and the newly-elected governor of Paran\u00e1, Ratinho Junior, sent a letter to Bras\u00edlia supporting Paran\u00e1\u2019s candidacy to host COP25. According to the document, the event could generate BRL 400 million (USD 106.48 million), with around 35,000 people.<\/p>\n USD 106 million <\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s participation in Sciences and Politics.<\/p>\n Translated by S\u00e9rgio Kakitani <\/strong><\/p>\n