Brazil's Bolsonaro speaks at climate summit

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro shifted his tone on the preservation of the Amazon rainforest at the U.S.-led climate summit, exhibiting willingness to step up commitment even as many critics continue doubting his credibility.

Bolsonaro said Thursday he agrees with U.S. President Joe Biden's "call for the establishment of ambitious commitments."

"We should improve the governance of the land as well as make the bio-economy a reality, effectively valuing the forest and biodiversity," Brazil's leader said.

Bolsonaro also said he would double the amount of money for environmental authorities' oversight.

It's unclear how that reconciles with immediate spending, as the 2021 budget outlook for the environment ministry is the lowest for any year this century.

The speech shows Bolsonaro's administration realizes it needs to at least start talking the talk in the face of international and domestic pressure.

Bolsonaro says Brazil requires outside funds to curb the deforestation of the world's largest tropical rainforest.

Last week a group of 15 U.S. senators penned a letter to Biden complaining of Bolsonaro's woeful environmental track record and urging the U.S. to condition any support for Amazon preservation on significant progress reducing deforestation.