Climate change a 'secondary' issue, says Brazil's environment minister

Appointed by president-elect Bolsonaro, Ricardo Salles calls environmental fines 'ideological'

Brazil's new environment minister believes that global warming is "secondary", that many environmental fines are "ideological" and has been accused of altering plans for an environmentally protected area in order to favour businesses.

Ricardo Salles, the former environment secretary for Sio Paulo state, was recommended for his new role by business and agribusiness groups and announced as minister in a tweet on Sunday by the far-right president-elect, Jair Bolsonaro.