Brazil and US agree action on deforestation and renewables

Brazil and the United States have agreed to collaborate more closely on reducing deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and increasing the share of renewables in both countries’ energy mix.

Dilma Rousseff and Barack Obama met on Wednesday as part of the Brazilian Presidents visit to the US.

At a press conference in Washington DC, Rousseff said: "We have the commitment to come to a zero deforestation, or a zero illegal deforestation, rate between now and 2030…And we also wish to turn the page and engage in a clear-cut reforestation-oriented policy."

Officials confirmed that Brazil plans to restore 12 million hectares of forest in the Amazon by 2030.

The two countries have also agreed to increase their contribution of electricity from renewable sources to 20 per cent by 2030.

Rates of deforestation in the Amazon are only a quarter of what they were in 2005 mainly due to better law enforcement of cattle ranches and soy farms, according to Doug Boucher of the US-based Union of Concerned Scientists.

Brazil has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by around 41 per cent compared with 2005, and the US by about 10 per cent.