Biden touts climate legacy in landmark visit to Amazon

But Trump's return to White House casts shadow over his South American tour

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US President Joe Biden paid a historic trip to the Amazon rainforest on Nov 17 to promote his record on fighting climate change, insisting it would survive Donald Trump's return to the White House.

Mr Biden flew over the jungle by helicopter and met indigenous leaders in the Brazilian city of Manaus on the penultimate leg of a valedictory South American tour which has been overshadowed by Trump's election win.

The 81-year-old Democrat is the first sitting US president to visit the Amazon.

"Folks, we don't have to choose between an environment and the economy. We can do both. We've proven it back home," Mr Biden said in a short speech at a nature reserve, framed by vivid green forest cover.

Without referring to Trump by name, he said he would leave his Republican successor and his country "a strong foundation to build on, if they choose to do so".

"It's true - some may seek to deny or delay the clean energy revolution that's under way in America. But nobody - nobody - can reverse it," he declared.

On Nov 17, the White House announced that the US had hit its target of increasing bilateral climate financing to US$11 billion (S$14.8 billion) a year.