Happy Friday! Today, we look at how Brazil withheld deforestation data from COP26. The biggest auction of port terminals in two decades. And the VP’s advice to Jair Bolsonaro.
Bleak deforestation data held back until after COP26
The National Institute of Space Research disclosed new deforestation data from between August 2020 and July 2021. During that time, the Amazon lost 13,235 square kilometers of forest — an area larger than Connecticut and 22 percent more than in the previous year.
Why it matters. More striking than the data itself is the date of its disclosure: October 27, or four days before the UN climate summit (COP26) began in Glasgow.
- Brazil made some significant steps at COP26, joining the world in the fight against climate change by compromising on carbon credit market issues.
- But the undeniable evidence that the government hid the growth of deforestation in the country raises doubts about how committed the Brazilian government will be to its pledges.
What they are saying: “The government went to Glasgow already aware that deforestation was up, but didn’t disclose that piece of information to the UN,” said João Paulo Capobianco, a former coordinator of the Amazon Deforestation Control Plan. “Instead, it...