Brazil businesses lean on government to shift climate stance

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Powerful businesses are urging Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to give up the country's long-standing resistance on key issues at this year's U.N. climate talks, arguing that Brazil can't afford to pass up the chance to use its vast natural wealth in the fight against global warming.

The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development, which says it represents companies behind almost half of the Latin American nation's economy, has called upon the government to clamp down on illegal deforestation and ease its hardline stance over carbon markets.

Those demands appeared to be bearing fruit.

Last week, Brazil surprised observers by joining an international pledge to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. And a speech Wednesday by Brazil's environment minister is expected to see the country lay out a new position on carbon markets that could help break long-running deadlock on the issue.

“We have positive signs from the government," said Marina Grossi, president of the business group known by its Portuguese acronym CEBDS and includes mining giants Anglo American and Vale, and oil firms Petrobras and Shell.

Grossi said Brazil's private sector believes the country can achieve its target of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 — a date recently brought forward from 2060 — by protecting the huge carbon-absorbing Amazon.

“It’s a great opportunity," she told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday. “Our big elephant in the room is illegal deforestation."

Brazil's government has paid little heed to similar demands from environmental groups. But Grossi said big businesses may be better placed to win over Bolsonaro's right-wing government, which faces an election next year.

“The private sector was saying it’s good for business, it’s not...