Brazil’s Lula Made Progress on Deforestation, but “Agribusiness Is Winning” – Mother Jones
Mother JonesDEC 2024
Amazon Deforestation in Brazil Increases Ahead of COP30
Above: Amazon rainforest deforested by fires in the municipality of Labrea, Amazonas State, Brazil, on Aug. 20, 2024. Image copyright: Evaristo Sa/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
Brazil's environmental efforts under Lula deserve recognition despite recent setbacks. Since he took office, his administration moved swiftly to reassert environmental governance, implemented comprehensive fire management policies, and allocated substantial resources for forest protection. While climate change and extreme drought created unprecedented challenges, the government's reforms and enforcement actions demonstrate a genuine commitment to conservation.
Government-critical narrative
The lack of international criticism over Amazon fires under Lula exposes clear political bias. When similar fires occurred under former President Jair Bolsonaro, celebrities and world leaders demanded immediate action and threatened economic sanctions. Now, with even worse fire seasons documented, these same voices remain conspicuously silent, revealing their environmental concerns were politically motivated rather than genuinely focused on forest preservation.