Good morning! Despite pledging more ambitious climate goals, the Brazilian government is doing the exact opposite — both in the “real world” and in diplomatic venues. Plus, the Pandora Papers put the heat on Paulo Guedes as economic anxieties rise in Brazil.
Pre-salt oil auction a risk to marine biodiversity
Brazil’s National Oil Agency (ANP) is set to auction off 92 pre-salt deepwater oil and gas fields today. The list of assets includes the Potiguar fields, located just kilometers away from the Rocas Atoll (the only atoll in the South Atlantic) and the Fernando de Noronha archipelago.
Why it matters. Both the Rocas Atoll and Fernando de Noronha are home to unique marine species and geodiversity. The former was turned into a conservation reserve in 1979, while the latter became a natural park in 1988. Both are world natural heritage sites.
- Rocas Atoll: The wildlife sanctuary is a hugely important feeding ground for marine life. Turtles, sharks, dolphins, and birds live in the area — which consists mainly of coral and red algae.
- Fernando de Noronha: The islands were formed around 2 to 7 million years ago, when magma exploded from underneath the South American tectonic plate. “It is a...