Escazú Climate Agreement: Brazil among notable absences

Last week, the eyes of the world were fixed on the U.S.-hosted climate summit. While the event did bring some notable pledges — including President Joe Biden’s promise to reduce the world’s top economy’s dependence on fossil fuels. However, the White House-sponsored event overshadowed an even more significant step in the world’s reckoning with climate change: Latin America’s Escazú Agreement. It became fully operational on April 23, after being ratified by at least 12 countries — with the notable exception of Jair Bolsonaro’s Brazil.

Across 26 articles, the agreement aims to strengthen civil and political rights and improve environmental democracy. It establishes guidelines, mechanisms, and procedures on how to consult populations before making decisions that affect their lives and the quality of their environment. The agreement also expands production and public access to information — which remains poor in Latin America and helps environmental crimes go unpunished. 

Escazú promotes access to justice by encouraging conflict resolution and obligations to compensate for damages. Crucially for a region such as Latin America, it also establishes protection and cooperation mechanisms for environmental defenders. More climate activists die in Latin America than anywhere in the world. 

In its latest report, NGO Global Witness confirmed 212 killings of environmental activists in 2019...