Maiara Folly, Executive Director of Plataforma CIPÓ, highlighted in an interview with Dialogue Earth the potential for Brazil-China cooperation to drive sustainability efforts. “There is enough trust between both sides to foster a positive relationship, rewarding those who adopt sustainable practices,” she stated. The interview took place during COP29 in Azerbaijan.
Folly emphasized China’s strategic role as Brazil’s main trading partner in supporting the country’s environmental commitments. According to her, “It is in China’s interest to back Brazil’s preservation plans, considering that the country already has robust environmental legislation and concrete goals to reduce deforestation.”
The Executive Director also discussed Brazil’s pragmatic approach to bilateral relations and multilateralism, noting challenges with the United States and the European Union. “Brazil maintains good relations with both China and the U.S., but Donald Trump’s reelection would require greater efforts from Brazil’s foreign policy,” she remarked.
Regarding the EU, she criticized measures such as CBAM (the carbon border adjustment mechanism), which she described as “protectionist” from the perspective of developing countries. To make progress, Folly advocated for international partnerships that build trust and deliver mutual benefits, citing the Tropical Forest Forever fund as an example. “We need win-win relationships to achieve ecological transformations in a fair and sustainable way,” she concluded.
