Brazil businesses lean on government to shift climate stance

Powerful businesses are urging Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro to give up the country's long-standing resistance on key issues at this year’s U.N. climate talks

GLASGOW, Scotland -- 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.