The European Union's top environment official told Brazil on Wednesday that the South American country's updated climate pledge "sends a bad signal" by only committing to reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2060.
A large amount of smoke from the illegal burning of the Amazon rainforest in Nova Progresso, Para, Brazil on August 15, 2020 Photo: VCG
Like most of the world, Brazil in late 2020 submitted an updated commitment under the Paris Agreement on climate change, known as a nationally determined contribution (NDC). But the country largely maintained its previous targets while adding the net-zero-by-2060 pledge. The EU and the US have vowed to eliminate net emissions of all greenhouse gases by 2050.
"The failure to increase ambition in the updated NDC submitted by Brazil in December 2020 is a missed opportunity and sends a bad signal," EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkeviius told top Brazilian officials on Wednesday.
"The EU and the international community are expecting Brazil to show a much higher level of ambition," Sinkeviius said, adding that the pledge should be as close to 2050 as possible.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Carlos França defended the updated pledge, saying it affirmed the country's commitment to the Paris Agreement. França said developed countries had failed to meet their promises to provide financing that developing nations need to be more ambitious, which included a pledge to mobilize $100 billion annually to finance developing countries' action.
"Unfortunately the efforts of developing countries at adapting to climate change and mitigating their emissions have not been followed by increased international financial support," he said.