NEW YORK - Brazil's environment minister says her country will not sign on to a global anti-deforestation initiative being unveiled at the U.N. climate summit.
Despite its critical role in protecting the Amazon rainforest, Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira, speaking on the eve of Tuesday's climate summit, said Brazil was "not invited to be engaged in the preparation process" of the declaration.
Instead, she says Brazil was given a copy of the text and asked to endorse it without being allowed to suggest any changes.
An official with the U.N. Development Program, Charles McNeill, disputes that assertion, saying Brazil did not respond when asked to participate.
The declaration has not been publicly released but it is expected to be endorsed by many countries, corporations and major environmental groups.
