Brazil’s Political Climate is a Danger for the Amazon
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Authors
Monroe, Isabel
Issue Date
2024-04-04
Type
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Abstract
"Brazil's political borders contain nearly 60% of the Amazon rainforest and the Amazon absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen through photosynthesis, so it is imperative to the world’s climate crisis that the Brazilian government keeps strict, binding environmental laws to protect this vital ecosystem. The deforestation of the Amazon rainforest affects the entire globe; however, the Brazilian government plays one of the largest roles in keeping deforestation rates down — a goal that not every Brazilian president is set on keeping. Taking into consideration recent presidential elections and how the two presidents had polar opposite approaches for dealing with the Amazon, it can be wondered whether the political climate of Brazil will ever be stable enough to enforce environmental laws that are concrete enough to last more than a span of a singular presidential term. To be able to analyze this question, multiple factors must be taken into consideration. Examining the 2018 election, how did Jair Bolsonaro get elected into office, what environmental policies did he take while in office, and how the public opinion of him shifted throughout his term is just one key part. The 2022 presidential election must also be studied. How did Lula da Silva win back the people of Brazil from Bolsonaro’s grasp with his opposing environmental views and does his election mean that environmental policy became a deciding factor for the voting population? These questions can be answered by considering one of the same factors considered with Bolsonaro: his election campaign. And to further understand the current political climate of Brazil, looking at da Silva’s environmental policies while in office and the public’s opinion of the president while in office is critical. Being able to compare and contrast the two most recent, and polarizing, Brazilian presidential elections will result in the ability to analyze the “political wave” of Brazil’s government and then study the extent of the president’s power in Brazil, allowing analysts to further delve into whether or not the political climate will ever be stable and strong enough to create long-lasting environmental legislation for the Brazilian Amazon."