Brazil aims to curb deforestation in step toward climate treaty

WASHINGTON -- Brazil pledged Tuesday to restore millions of acres of forests and expand renewable energy use, as the United States and Brazil worked to build momentum toward a budding global climate treaty.

Brazil's announcement stopped short of a commitment to bring deforestation down to zero, as many environmentalists had advocated.

Still, the pledge offered some of the first signs of how Brazil intends to curb its emissions as part of the treaty.

The vast majority of Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions come from destruction in the Amazon rainforest.

As part of its plan, announced during Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff's visit to the White House, Brazil is vowing by 2030 to restore and reforest 12 million hectares -- an area roughly the size of Pennsylvania.

The government also is pledging to "pursue policies aimed at eliminating illegal deforestation." Brazilian law allows landowners to cut 20 percent of trees on their land, with some limitations.

Brazil also plans to expand renewable sources other than hydropower to between 28 percent and 33 percent of its total energy mix by 2030.

And in the electricity sector, the U.S. and Brazil jointly announced intentions to increase their share of renewable, non-hydropower sources to 20 percent by 2030.

That will require tripling the amount of renewable energy on the U.S. electricity grid, while doubling it in Brazil, officials said.

To meet that goal, the Obama administration is relying on controversial power plant emission limits President Barack Obama has proposed, said Brian Deese, Obama's senior adviser.

Rich and poor countries have been putting forth their commitments, known as nationally determined contributions, to reduce emissions as part of the treaty world leaders hope to finalize later this year in Paris.

The U.S. has announced its full commitment to the climate treaty: a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions of up to 28 percent by 2025, compared to 2005 levels.

But a key sticking point has been whether developing nations like Brazil will be willing to make substantial contributions.

Brazil and other developing countries have balked, arguing industrialized nations that have polluted more historically bear more responsibility for curbing climate change.

In another positive sign for the treaty's backers, China on Tuesday announced its highly anticipated contribution, pledging to reduce the intensity of its carbon emissions and to halt their growth by 2030.

Officials said China would aim to reduce its emissions per unit of gross domestic product by 60-65 percent by 2030 from 2005 levels.