The country's environmental image is at an all-time low thanks to its President, global warming skeptic Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil arrives at the COP26 Summit, promising, on the one hand, to eliminate Amazon deforestation by 2030, and on the other, with a request for foreign funds to protect the Amazon rainforest and cut down greenhouse gases emission.
The Brazilian delegation is headed by Environment Minister Joaquim Leite, as Bolsonaro chose not to attend. It arrives amid ongoing controversy the country due to the Bolsonaro's stance on climate change and, in particular, a project to allow cattle ranching, soybean cultivation and mining in indigenous reserves.
Cattle ranching is the key factor behind the deforestation of the Amazon. 60% of this jungle is located within the territory of Brazil, which began to "colonize" it on a massive scale in 1971, during the military dictatorship. Some 8,000 indigenous people died during that process, according to the National Truth Commission.