Number of Brazil Amazon Fires Hits Five-Year High in August
TimeMAY 2022
The new data, especially as it coincides with Lula's presidency, is a cause for optimism. Even despite the horrific environment Bolsonaro left him, the environmental policy success of Lula's government proves that the world can reverse deforestation if it has the will to do so. Every leader facing environmental issues now has a blueprint for success, and it's time for them to study and replicate it.
While Amazonian deforestation should be combatted, claims of its importance to oxygen production have been greatly exaggerated. As for the global crisis, there has actually been a net gain of 865K sq miles (2.2K sq km) of reforestation around the world over the past 35+ years. While countries like Brazil should work to protect their rainforest, left-leaning policies shouldn't overreact and risk destroying economic opportunity for the 30M people who live in that region.