Emmanuel Macron in Belém with Lula and Raoni

On March 26th, French President Emmanuel Macron went to Belém, in the North of Brazil,

accompanied by the Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. As envisaged last December during the visit of Grand Chief Raoni and Watatakalu Yawalapiti at the Elysee Palace, the residence of the French President, Macron had finally accepted Raoni’s invitation to discover the Amazon forest.

The reunion in Belém is no coincidence. The city is the capital of Pará, one of the Brazilian states in the Amazon Rainforest, which is set to host the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 30) in 2025. Indigenous communities have long been fighting to be heard in the climate change debates. The COP30 in the Amazon is therefore a truly unique opportunity for the indigenous communities to voice their concerns with the global community.

The French and Brazilian Presidents announced moreover a new joint one billion Euros funding program that not only wants to protect the Amazon but also seeks to create economic opportunities for its indigenous communities.

During a solemn ceremony, Macron finally awarded Grand Chief Raoni the Légion d'Honneur, the greatest state honour in France, which is only given to persons who have demonstrated great achievements for the betterment of France and humankind. AFV is proud to have had the privilege to assist in that unique reunion in Belem.