Unveiling a groundbreaking study from the University of California San Diego’s School of Global Policy and Strategy, showcasing how public outcry can drive significant environmental action, even in the face of hostile administrations.
The research, set to be published in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, delves into the intense public scrutiny surrounding forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon back in August 2019. This scrutiny coincided with Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency, marked by anti-environmental rhetoric.
Remarkably, heightened public attention led to a remarkable 22% decrease in Amazon fires, preventing an estimated 24.8 million tons of CO2 emissions. The study highlights how media coverage and public focus can sway local environmental policies.
Co-author Teevrat Garg emphasized that immediate governmental responses were triggered by this surge in attention, resulting in tangible reductions in fire incidents. This swift action was unexpected given Bolsonaro’s prior stance on climate science and sustainable development.
Despite being an annual occurrence driven by agricultural practices or wildfires, forest fires pose a threat to the Amazon’s vital role as a global carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot.
Published on 2024-10-03 at 19:15:02
Source: phys.org