Governments of many countries set ambitious goals and make grand promises. The shaky trust we have in them often stems from many failures to fulfill those promises. As someone who deals with such topics daily, I frequently come across headlines that confirm this. However, this time I came across news that shows one government succeeded in facing the challenge and kept the promise it made. Therefore, among a series of not-so-bright examples, I wanted to share this piece of good news with all nature enthusiasts.
The federal government of Brazil has announced a decrease in the deforestation rate in the Amazon and Cerrado.
Official data shows that the deforestation rate in the Amazon was 6,288 km² for the period from August 2023 to July 2024, which represents a reduction of 30.63 percent compared to the previous period from August 2022 to July 2023. This result is recorded as the best in the last nine years! As for the Cerrado, the rate is similarly positive – a 25.8 percent decrease for the period from August 2023 to July 2024, and notably, this is the first reduction in the past five years.
For some, this data is encouraging, while others may see it as insufficient. I believe it is heartening, and I hope it will not end with this success. To illustrate what has been achieved, the Vice President of Brazil emphasized that the amount of emissions prevented during this period is equivalent to the emissions of the entire country of Argentina.
Without delay, the federal government has also launched the Pact for Prevention and Control of Deforestation and Fires in the Cerrado among the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, PiauÃ, and Bahia.
Through its example, Brazil has shown that change is not only possible but also achievable when there is a clear will, collaboration, and long-term commitment. As they emphasized, the achieved changes are the result of a new approach that transcends the policies of a single government. This success will be presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in 2024, and I hope this year’s COP29 will be filled with good results and that the Brazilian government will not be the only one presenting information about fulfilling the promises they made.
