Brazilian Environment Minister Is Booed at Climate Week

[Judi Lynn]

Brasilia, Aug 21 (Prensa Latina) Brazil''s Environment Minister Ricardo Salles was booed Wednesday during his participation in the Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week, which closes on Friday in Salvador, capital of the northeastern state of Bahia.

Salles was booed when he was called to deliver the week's opening speech and the protests included banners ('Amazonia in flames', 'Against environmental deforestation') and shouts against the Bolsonaro government's environmental policies. Only a few people applauded the official.

In May, the minister even announced that he would cancel the meeting, arguing that it would not be necessary, because Brazil had renounced hosting the United Nations Climate Conference, COP 25.

That meeting will take place in December, but in Santiago, Chile.

When he could speak, Salles referred to the fires in the Amazon and acknowledged that it is 'a very worrying situation, aggravated by the dry weather, the heat. We are going to act to support the governments of the states in this fight against the fires,' he said.

The National Institute for Space Research revealed that so far this year the country has seen 83 percent more wildfires than those of the same period in 2018.

According to the government agency, during the last week, wildfires affected 68 protected areas or indigenous reserves in the Amazon.

https://www.plenglish.com/index.php?o=rn&id=45908&SEO=brazilian-environment-minister-is-booed-at-climate-week

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