South America
Amazon land grabbers are destroying brazil nut groves for cattle pasture
Emboldened by a promised amnesty on land seizures, cattle ranchers are felling brazil nut trees, edging out families who have harvested them for generations
The Amazon home of Bolsonaro’s mineral fantasy
Indigenous inhabitants of the region with the largest deposits of niobium in the world claim the right to decide what is done with the metal
EU must not sacrifice the Amazon rainforest on the altar of trade with Brazil
As Brazil’s second-biggest trade partner, the EU should condemn President Bolsonaro’s assault on environmental protections and indigenous rights
Amazon faces ‘perfect storm’ of forest clearance, coronavirus and wildfire
President Jair Bolsonaro’s opening up of the Brazilian rainforest to logging and mining makes its people vulnerable to the Covid-19 pandemic, experts warn
Chile to peak emissions by 2025, under strengthened climate pledge
In the midst of a global pandemic, government ministers stressed the need to build a sustainable, resilient economy for the long term
Electric buses offer Latin American and Caribbean transport a green and profitable future
Sponsored content: The Inter-American Development Bank is mobilising different divisions within the bank while working with public and private actors to drive the transition towards electric public transport
The second death of Chico Mendes
Rubber tappers burn an Amazon forest reserve in Brazil to clear land to raise cattle – deforestation has increased under President Jair Bolsonaro
Carbon taxes are key to stop deforestation
In Colombia and Costa Rica, where governments have imposed carbon taxes, deforestation rates are down, while revenues to fund forest restoration efforts are up
Indigenous lands, protected areas limit Amazon’s carbon emissions
Greater international support for indigenous land rights and livelihoods is a cost-effective way to limit climate change, PNAS study
Chile delays emissions goal boost at its own UN climate talks
The presidency of Cop25 had planned to mark the conference by taking a leading role in raising ambition, but that announcement is now expected in 2020
Catholic church denounces ‘attacks’ on Amazon people and forest
Setting up a collision with Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, the church said ‘ecocidal’ projects should be stopped and proposed indigenous-led development plan
Massive protests and disruption in Chile ahead of trade and UN climate summits
Government said plans for the meetings had not changed, but protesters and military remain on the streets and the death toll has reached 18
After 11 days of civil unrest, Ecuador reinstates fossil fuel subsidies
Cuts to subsidies, imposed without an alternative, led to price rises, strife and, eventually, a government backdown
Brazil fights attempt to cancel its old carbon credits
Credits from an old regime could undermine the Paris climate agreement, but negotiations ended in stalemate after the biggest holders dug in their heels
Europeans must face their own role in the destruction of the Amazon
Through consumption of agricultural products that can drive deforestation, the EU is complicit in the loss of the great forest, it’s time lawmakers stepped up
Seven stories that will help you understand the destruction of the Amazon
CHN’s correspondent has been documenting the forces tearing the Amazon apart since long before the world heard of Jair Bolsonaro. Here are several must read stories
Brazil says South American countries will meet over Amazon wildfires
President Jair Bolsonaro made the announcement after meeting with his Chilean counterpart on Wednesday
G7 countries offer $20 million emergency aid to fight Amazon wildfires
The Brazilian government has suggested it would reject the offer after president Jair Bolsonaro’s chief of staff said the resources are “more relevant to reforest Europe”
Ireland threatens to block Mercosur trade deal unless Brazil protects Amazon
Leo Varadkar said Ireland could vote against the free trade deal between South American countries and the EU over deforestation and wildfires concerns
Record 72,000 forest fires detected in Brazil this year
Brazil’s space research center INPE reported 9,507 new forest fires across the country, mostly in the Amazon basin, since last Thursday