Brazil Withdraws Offer To Host UN Conference On Climate Change
Brazil withdrew its offer to host the COP25 United Nations climate conference next year citing budget constraints and presidential transition.
In a statement on Wednesday, Brazil’s foreign ministry said: “Considering the current financial and budgetary restrictions and the process of transition for the recently elected administration … the Brazilian government feels obliged to rescind its offer to host COP25.”
The move came just days before the start of COP24, this year’s annual climate conference, being held in Poland’s Katowice city. COP25 was due to take place from November 11-22, 2019.
Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro, who will assume office on January 1, had threatened to withdraw Brazil from the Paris climate accord.
He has also vowed to remove restrictions on the agri-business sector accused of causing untold devastation to the environment, in particular the Amazon rainforest.
