Brazil aims to position the Amazon as a sustainable bioeconomic model

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is working to establish the Amazon as an international model for a “bioeconomy” that prioritizes sustainable development, biodiversity, and Indigenous rights, as he leads this month’s G20 summit.

Fred Pearce reports for Yale Environment 360.

In short:

Lula hopes the G20 will adopt principles that define a bioeconomy focused on environmental protection and support for local communities, moving beyond traditional extraction methods.
Brazil’s bioeconomic strategy aims to protect the Amazon by developing industries that harness its biodiversity sustainably, promoting eco-friendly products like açaí and forest-harvested peppers.
Critics warn the term “bioeconomy” has varied definitions, raising concerns it could enable greenwashing without enforceable standards.

Key quote:

“We must ensure that taking care of the forest is more profitable than cutting down the trees.”

— Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil

Why this matters:

The Amazon is a critical carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot; its preservation is vital in fighting climate change. Brazil’s model could set a global precedent for balancing economic growth with environmental and Indigenous protections, impacting similar ecosystems worldwide.

e360.yale.edu

Pair of rubber boots sitting in between rows of crops in a field

Credit: JSB Co./Unsplash+

As farm flooding increases, federal climate support evaporates

Federal staffing cuts, rescinded climate-focused conservation funds, and misaligned crop insurance are undermining farmers as extreme rainfall and flooding worsen across farm country. The shift is delaying on-the-ground help, sidelining resilience practices, and squeezing especially small, diversified operations.

Read the Full Article on

civileats.com

Brazil aims to position the Amazon as a sustainable bioeconomic model

Lithium mining leaves severe impacts in Chile, but new methods exist

Reimagining agriculture to feed a growing population without fueling climate collapse

Tiny forests: The overlooked benefits of these miniature urban woodlands

Trump EPA cancels $250 million solar grant to Texas

Schools scramble to keep clean energy plans alive as federal tax credits disappear

‘We’ve done it before’: how not to lose hope in the fight against ecological disaster

As farm flooding increases, federal climate support evaporates

Multiple Houston-area oil and gas facilities that have violated pollution laws are seeking permit renewals

One facility has emitted cancer-causing chemicals into waterways at levels up to 520% higher than legal limits.

Pennsylvania health advocates say Trump’s first 100 days in office have caused “100 harms” to local communities

“They're terrorizing these scientists because they want to keep them silent.”

Regulators are underestimating health impacts from air pollution: Study

"The reality is, we are not exposed to one chemical at a time.”

Two years into his term, has Gov. Shapiro kept his promises to regulate Pennsylvania’s fracking industry?

A new report assesses the administration’s progress and makes new recommendations

An open letter from EPA staff to the American public

“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. We need to hold this administration accountable.”

New evidence links heavy metal pollution with wildfire retardants

“The chemical black box” that blankets wildfire-impacted areas is increasingly under scrutiny.