Brazil’s new government may be less likely to protect the Amazon, critics say

Brazil's new government is considerably more right-wing than the old, and environmentalists are worried that the right leaning government means less environmental regulation, meaning further destruction of the Amazon rain forest. As the article states, Brazil's economy is in its worst slump since the 1930s, and their new leader, Michel Temer, took power promising a more business-friendly agenda to spur economic growth. He has a conservative cabinet whose members include people with close ties to powerful landowners and agribusiness companies. A controversial amendment to Brazil's constitution is being considered that would reduce licensing requirements for development projects in the Amazon, and reduce analyses of their impact from taking place. Many are afraid that he will not only pass this amendment, but that he will ultimately back an extremely regressive, anti-environmental agenda. Just last year, an area of the Amazon larger than Rhode Island was clear cut, and many fear that things like this will only increase under Temer. Under president Lula, millions of acres were made off-limits to deforest, which was huge accomplishment, and to see that progress destroyed would be terrible not only for Brazil, but the entire world due to the fact that the Amazon is a carbon sink and plays a large role in controlling the world's climate. 

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Emily Alaimo