Leaders meet as Amazon burns and the world protests

Boris Johnson has arrived in Biarritz for the G7 summit amid global protests over the Amazon rainforest fires.

The Prime Minister arrived in the French resort amid tight ­security to prevent demonstrators disrupting the meeting of international leaders.

Tensions have been escalating across the globe over the devastation being wreaked by fire in the Brazilian tropical rainforest. And thousands of people joined protests in Brazil and around the world to protest at the deforestation.

Environmental issues will be high on the agenda at the summit, where the destruction of the Amazon rainforest is expected to be discussed.

As he arrived at the summit, Mr Johnson said: “We need to escalate here at the G7 the tragedy of what humanity is inflicting on the natural world.”

But the PM said he would not want to see trade deals with the South American country used as a lever.

He said: “There are all sorts of people who will take any excuse at all to interfere with trade and to frustrate trade deals and I don’t want to see that.”

Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, has sent troops to the Amazon after being criticised for his inaction. Soldiers have been deployed to areas affected by the fires.

Mr Bolsonaro’s U-turn came after environmental activists staged protests in Brazil and at the country’s embassies around the world.

In a televised address, he said: “I’ve learned as a military man to love the Amazon forest and I want to help protect it.”

Many of the fires are thought to have been started deliberately and Mr Bolsonaro has backed clearing the rainforest for mining and agriculture.

Satellite images have shown a record number of fires this year, with an 85% increase on 2018.

Several countries have advocated targeting Brazil’s economy, with Finland’s finance minister calling on the EU to look at banning beef imports.

Both France and Ireland have announced they will not ratify a trade deal with South American countries including Brazil.

SNP MEPs Alyn Smith and Aileen McLeod have raised concerns over a planned trade agreement with Brazil and have called on a strong response from the UK Government.

Both politicians have signed a letter to EU President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU Commissioner for International Trade Cecilia Malmström urging them not to conclude the deal.

Mr Smith said: “It’s imperative that there is a strong international response to the crisis in Brazil, including from the Boris Johnson and the UK government.”