Brazil: Amazon deforestation drops 34% in first six months under Lula
GuardianJUL 2023
Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon Falls to Five-Year Low
Image copyright: Lynsey Addario/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Left narrative
Although Lula still has a steep way to pull off his balancing act with competing political and economic interests to tackle illegal deforestation and preserve the world's most important rainforest, this latest sign of success is inspiring. After four years of destruction under former president Jair Bolsonaro, the environmental agenda is finally moving forward.
Right narrative
It's outrageous to compare how differently the Western establishment has treated Lula and Bolsonaro concerning the protection of the Amazon rainforest. Global environmentalists, who previously conducted a disinformation campaign against Bolsonaro, have now turned silent as their fellow Lula oversees smoke from wildfires smothering and harming people in that region.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 26% chance that Brazil will reach net zero deforestation before 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
