Brazil's Environment Minister announces a new secretariat to curb deforestation

MADRID, 5 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The new Brazilian Environment Minister, Marina Silva, took office on Wednesday, announcing the creation of a secretariat to curb deforestation.

Silva has assured that the success of his office will be marked by the extinction of the anti-deforestation secretariat: "When we reach zero deforestation, there will be no need for the Extraordinary Deforestation Secretariat."

"We want to highlight the priority of what is, perhaps, the greatest global challenge that humanity is currently experiencing," said the head of the ministerial portfolio, referring to the increase in spending on climate matters.

"The Ministry of the Environment (MMA) will recover, strengthen and create institutions in favor of robust and articulated climate governance, so that the issue is addressed with the necessary transversality, with the participation of all government bodies (federal, state and municipal), has assured.

In addition, during his inauguration speech, Silva has criticized the environmental policies adopted by the previous Executive, led by former president Jair Bolsonaro. These measures have been a "lack of respect for the Brazilian socio-environmental heritage", as he has stated.

"We are going to have an action that respects multilateralism, but we are going to act internally so that Brazil returns, instead of being an environmental pariah, to being the country that will help us finalize the agreement with Mercosur, that we can bring in investments, that open the market for our products", he stated, referring to relationships to achieve benefits in terms of strategic interests.

Silva, who has accessed the Government for the second time this Wednesday, was also a minister during the first two terms of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva between 2003 and 2008. Years later, Silva has appeared on several occasions as a candidate for the Presidency of the country.