In recent days, Brazilian climate experts have mulled why. Some city council and mayoral candidates are financially supported by activities that profit from deforestation, such as logging and mining, Agência Pública reported. Reporters found that in several areas with high deforestation—and thus wildfires—leading politicians tended to be silent about forest stewardship.
Brazil’s largest political parties generally do not tout climate consciousness as a top issue. The party that appears the closest to doing so is the ruling Workers’ Party. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has promoted forest protection and green energy in international forums. But Lula governs in a coalition with centrist and conservative parties and has embraced fossil fuel exploration domestically.
To Angelo, a former science editor at Brazil’s newspaper of record, Folha de S. Paulo, climate was discussed so little in the campaign in part because “mainstream media tries to replicate the conversations that are happening on social media,” rather than journalists trying to orient the news cycle around policy questions.
I will tell you why, because here there are two types of political ads:
1- candidates making the most vague promises possible like “I will improve our healthcare!”
2- ads throwing dirt on other candidates for whatever reason
Not a single candidate will talk about concrete plans, whether for protecting the environment nor for any other municipal issue.
Even worse, Agência Pública reported some time ago that a considerable number of right wing politicians (who are always pro deforestation, much like Bolsonaro) were blaming the current fires on Lula, as “revenge” for the infinite complaints about complacency and incentives that Bolsonaro and his thugs gave for deforestation
Why are we talking about Brazil? /genq
Someone getting downvoted with a clearly marked genuine question. Damn I thought this was better than reddit
Brazil is sharing the atmosphere with most of us, since it is on planet earth, which is a very popular planet to live on.
Quality of living is sadly declining on this planet, due to climate change.
Every country needs to go to zero emissions, and Brazil is big enough to matter. Its fossil fuel use has been modest, but deforestion can tip the Amazon from a rain forest into a dry savanna, killing off all the trees, and releasing the carbon they presently sequester.
Thank you for explaining!
