Introduction
The Swiss Federal Councilor, Guy Parmelin, recently announced that Switzerland will make donations to the Amazon Fund. This initiative is an important step towards sustainability and combating illegal deforestation in the region.
The Amazon Fund
Created in 2008, the Amazon Fund receives donations mainly from Norway and Germany. However, in 2019, the countries suspended the transfers and froze the values for new projects, maintaining only the payments already programmed. Switzerland joins other countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, which have also announced that they will make contributions to the fund.
Official Statements
In a statement to the press, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin thanked the Swiss for their initiative and highlighted the good economic partnership and investment opportunities between the two countries. Alckmin also stated that Brazil is committed to sustainable development and combating illegal deforestation.
Mercosur-EFTA Agreement
During the speeches, Alckmin and Parmelin mentioned the trade agreement negotiated between Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a part. The agreement, negotiated since 2017, was concluded in 2019, but there are still pending issues related to technical matters.
Conclusion
Switzerland's donation to the Amazon Fund is an important step towards sustainability and combating illegal deforestation in the region. It is essential that other countries follow suit and contribute to the protection of the Amazon.
Source / Reference
Original URL: https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2023/07/05/suica-fara-doacoes-ao-fundo-amazonia-anuncia-representante-do-pais-europeu.ghtml