New York

Brazil is not on the list of countries that will address the UN climate summit next Monday (23) in New York.

"Brazil has not submitted any plans to increase its commitment to the climate," UN Special Secretary-General Luis Alfonso de Alba told the blog.

Brazil's Environment Minister Ricardo Salles looks on during a news conference at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil August 1, 2019. REUTERS/Adriano Machado - REUTERS

He said the UN asked countries to submit a plan to increase the ambition of climate commitments and, based on the documents they received, selected which countries present inspirational speeches.

The United States, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Australia, and South Korea will also be absent. The final list of speeches includes 63 countries, including France and the United Kingdom, and is due to be released later this Wednesday (18).

Brazil intended to speak at the summit, according to a diplomat who is part of the Brazilian delegation in the climate negotiations and considered the UN criterion 'subjective'.

Brazil, however, chose not to commit to more ambitious actions. The country proposed to the UN to hold an event to promote biofuels as a short term solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposal was denied for the summit but will be apart of the preparatory events, with a discussion on the theme scheduled for Sunday (22), the day before the summit.

"If you let me, I'll talk," Environment Minister Ricardo Salles told the blog. He arrives in New York on Saturday (21) and will be present at the UN climate summit.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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