South American countries fail to agree on ending Amazon deforestation

(Patria) - Eight Amazon nations agreed on a list of common environmental policies and measures to strengthen regional cooperation at a major rainforest summit in Brazil, but failed to agree on a common goal to end deforestation, Reuters reported.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has staked his international reputation on improving Brazil's environmental standing, pushed for the region to unite behind a common policy to end deforestation by 2030, one he had already adopted.

Instead, a joint declaration released in the Brazilian city of Belem created an alliance to combat forest destruction, leaving countries to pursue their own individual deforestation goals.

The failure of the eight countries to agree on a pact to protect their own forests points to larger, global difficulties in striking deals to combat climate change.

Many scientists say policymakers are acting too slowly to prevent catastrophic
global warming. Lula and other national leaders left the meeting without commenting on the declaration. The summit was attended by the presidents of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru, while Ecuador, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela sent other high-ranking officials.