Environmentalists celebrate Lula's reelection in Brazil: 'The Amazon can breathe a sigh of relief'
Summary
Brazilian environmentalists and Indigenous groups welcomed Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s reelection, hoping his government will continue efforts to curb Amazon deforestation. They warned that a Congress with strong far-right and agribusiness representation could weaken environmental protections, while Lula’s support for offshore oil drilling has also drawn criticism.Key Facts
- Lula defeated Flávio Bolsonaro in Sunday’s runoff, receiving 51.78% of the vote to Bolsonaro’s 48.21%.
- Lula won by 4.4 million votes after trailing in the first round.
- Flávio Bolsonaro refused to concede and said he would ask the electoral court to nullify the result; the results were scheduled for certification on Dec. 18.
- Indigenous groups and advocacy organizations mobilized voters in the Amazon, and court rulings helped secure transportation to polling places for people in remote areas.
- About 60% of the Amazon rainforest lies in Brazil, and the forest absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide.
- Lula’s government announced the lowest Amazon deforestation rate on record the previous week, according to the article.
- The Climate Observatory said seven in 10 incoming lawmakers oppose its climate and environmental agenda.
- Environmentalists criticized Lula’s support for drilling for oil in offshore waters near the Amazon.
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