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By: Meghan Richardson Summary. Back in 2016, many countries put together outlines for their climate policies. For Brazil, this included plans to decrease their environmental impact. The main focus of the proposal was on deforestation and emissions. According to the German Federal Ministry the hope was to decrease deforestation by 80% and lessen overall emissions by 43%. The end date was by 2030. However, these plans have changed over the past four years. A new leader took office in Brazil and unlike his predecessor, has not done as much to combat their environmental impact. His main focus presently is on Brazil's economy. In 2020, Brazil resubmitted their climate outline. This lessened efforts against deforestation and emissions, but the plan for lower emissions is still aimed to be done by 2030. This seems to be just wishful thinking because the Climate Action Tracker is estimating Brazil's climate impact to be 27% higher than the 2016 outline. The updated document took away the previous pledge to halt illegal deforestation. As more deforestation occurs, the impact to their climate worsens. Another issue affecting their environment is the new found reliance on coal energy. Brazil has access to other forms of energy and coal does not provide a high amount of electricity. According to Climate Home News, Brazil's biggest contributor to stored energy is hydropower. One would think that because of this more money would be allocated to it, but this does not seem to be the case. This year Brazil put out a report stating that they want $3.9 billion to assist coal production until 2050. This increase in coal production could lead to even harsher environmental impacts. Why we should care? Though the impacts of deforestation and high emissions will be immediately felt by Brazil, overtime it also can affect the whole world. A large portion of the worlds carbon emissions are cycled by the Amazon Rainforest.  Photo Credit: https://www.npr.org/2021/11/19/1057245837/brazil-amazon-rainforest-worst-deforestation-rate Example Article. https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/18/world/deforestation-increase-amazon-report-climate/index.html I chose this article because it sheds light on the deforestation of the Amazon. As I stated earlier, the Amazon does a lot for Earth by cycling a large amount of the worlds carbon dioxide emissions. It seems very important to keep this environment protected. However, this article states that in almost a year 2.4 million acres of the Amazon's forest has been demolished. Areas like this are important to fight against climate change. More effort needs to be put forth to save this environment and its wildlife. Science in Action.
Dr. Carlos A. Nobre is a Climate Scientist at University of São Paulo. Dr. Nobre is a climate scientist for the University of São Paulo. Both he and his colleagues see the importance of the Amazon and have been doing research into the populations impact. Some notable trends he has wrote about is the lengthened dry seasons and increased deforestation. He views science to be a key factor in saving his home and is spending his life trying to educate students about the importance of their environment. Most recently he wrote an article titled, "To Save Brazil's Rainforest, Boost its Science" were he writes about the potential dangers to their environment, if actions are not taken to lesson the populations impact.
12 Comments
Emma Cockerill
11/24/2021 16:08:44
The fact that the Amazon Rainforest is partially in Brazil should highlight the importance of the country's environmental impact in itself. Related to deforestation, I have been an advocate for banning palm oil production in the Brazilian Amazon for many years. As well as being an ingredient of many foods and beauty products used globally, I was surprised to discover more recently production has increased for biofuels. The plantations stretch for miles creating a mono-culture vastly reducing the biodiversity of our more diverse land on earth. I posted a recent article below explaining the surge of palm oil production over the last decade. If the government won't ban it, we need to create increased consumer awareness to actively avoid products containing palm oil.
Lindsey Hazelton
11/27/2021 21:55:55
It is always upsetting when another leader is put into power that doesn't care about the environment as much as the previous leader. Due to part of the Amazon rainforest being in Brazil, it is especially important that the environment is focused on. If the Amazon rainforest is affected enough, the carbon emission cycling will be affected negatively and the entire world will feel the impact. That is very dangerous. Any person in power NEEDS to care about the environment or the proper changes will, unfortunately, not be made.
Tara Flaherty
11/28/2021 22:48:19
It's so concerning that a country such as Brazil that has the Amazon rainforest in it would have a leader that doesn't care about the environment. More politicians should care about the environment seeing as though if we don't get our stuff together that we will start to lose the ability to live on this planet.
Jackson Vosburg
11/29/2021 00:19:08
Jair Bolsonaro is a dangerous person to have as a leader of a country. He has no care in the world for the beautiful amazon rainforest as logging companies are ravaging it. This has lead to the extinction or endangering of many species only found in the amazon region such as dart frog species, parrots, and primates.
Tommy Maloney
11/29/2021 11:21:34
I hate to see the deforestation taking place in Brazil. The Amazon rainforest if one of the most beautiful and diverse ecosystems on the planet and its being completely dismantled. Because of this many species are going endangered and some may very well become extinct if this problem is not fixed soon.
Collin Houston
11/29/2021 14:44:34
This is horrible. The Amazon is one of the most biodiverse places on our planet. To keep deforestation going in Brazil is a very bad plan because it will worsen climate change and kill many animals and tree that are only found living in the Amazon. I hope that something happens to revert their plan back to the 2016 plan.
Thomas Cisney
11/29/2021 19:05:30
Of course deforestation plans get derailed by new government take over. At least the emissions plan seems to be going strong, even if just wishful thinking. However wishful thinking does not unburn forests or replant trees. I still feel solid in the thought that coal is barbaric, renewable and nuclear is the path to a brighter future. 11/30/2021 10:10:47
That's so sad how the Amazon is quickly diminishing. The new leader of Brazil is concerning and I think also can be a reflection of potential situations of other countries around the world. I hope the leader can soon prioritize climate change over the economy and wonder what kind of lash back he is getting by the people of the country. It's only a matter of time before we'll have no other choice to deal with climate change.
MICHELLE KIM
11/30/2021 23:27:37
This was concerning to read because like the blog said most of the worlds carbon emissions are cycling through the amazon rain forest, but there has been less changes done due to the leader of Brazil. The wishful promise that they were going to take action by 2030, seems like it most likely wont happen. I hope that they are keeping their promises like they did in 2016.
Juliana Witt
12/18/2021 12:43:46
I think the rate that the Amazon rainforest is being cut down is ridiculous. The fact that everyone knows it is happening and the effects that it has on the planet is crazy. We can see the effects in front of us yet it still isn't being stopped. It is sad to hear that the person that should be helping stop deforestation really doesn't care. There needs to be more regulations for this forest because it is so important to many animals and people on the Earth.
Alex Leh
12/21/2021 20:24:52
Empires are born and die on their access to resources. Every leader in this country should do more to study history. It is one thing to clear out some woods when you have no open land to exploit, it is a completely different, insane thing to wipe out wide swaths of forest for seemingly temporary use. If Brazil continues to do this, they will have a dramatic climate and economic crisis as their ecology changes. It should not be profitable to clear cut regions at this scale.
Keara McLaughlin
12/21/2021 23:24:21
It is very sad that the officials in a country with one of the greatest natural resources and ecosystems on Earth does not care about it. I thought when Brazil pledged reduced deforestation and emissions in 2016 they would followthrough considering all of the pressures. It is very devastating to know that they did not. Leave a Reply. |
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December 2021
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