Lula’s fourth-term victory offers renewed hope for protecting the Amazon rainforest, combating climate change and preserving biodiversity, despite political opposition and continuing environmental threats.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s reelection has been welcomed by environmentalists as a major victory for democracy and the protection of the Amazon rainforest. His return to office in 2023 has coincided with a significant decline in deforestation, with forest loss falling by 42 per cent in the past year, according to official monitoring figures cited in the report.

Lula’s victory comes as a relief to environmental campaigners who feared that a win for right-wing rival Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, could weaken environmental safeguards and climate policies.

During Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency from 2019 to 2023, environmental protections were weakened and deforestation surged by around 60 per cent, with more than 45,000 square kilometres of forest cleared. Under Lula, deforestation has fallen 71 per cent below its 2022 level, reaching its lowest level since monitoring began in 1988.

Greenpeace Brazil described the election result as “a win for democracy” that maintains the country’s commitment to protecting the Amazon and combating climate change.

Glenn Hurowitz, founder and chief executive of environmental advocacy organisation Mighty Earth, also welcomed Lula’s reelection, calling it a much-needed relief for the rainforest and Brazil’s other ecosystems.

Why the Amazon Matters

Brazil contains most of the world’s largest tropical rainforest and is home to several other important ecosystems, including the Cerrado and Pantanal. Together, these environments support an extraordinary range of wildlife and plant species.

Camila Jardim, an international political expert at Greenpeace Brazil, said Brazil’s ecosystems harbour around 15 per cent of global biodiversity. Protecting them is therefore essential not only for Brazil but also for global efforts to halt biodiversity loss.

The Amazon also absorbs and stores vast quantities of carbon, helping limit global warming. Its trees release moisture into the atmosphere, influencing rainfall patterns and weather systems across South America.

Policies Behind the Decline

A major factor behind the reduction in deforestation has been the revival of Brazil’s Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon, known as PPCDAm.

The programme strengthens satellite monitoring, enforcement against illegal forest clearing and financial measures designed to discourage destruction while encouraging sustainable economic activities.

The government has also pursued international conservation funding, including initiatives intended to make protecting standing forests financially rewarding.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the environmental progress, Lula faces political obstacles. His rival has challenged the election result, while right-wing parties have gained substantial representation in Brazil’s National Congress, potentially limiting the president’s ability to pass environmental legislation.

Environmentalists have urged continued public mobilisation and stronger protection for Indigenous communities. Wildfires, illegal logging and drought also remain serious threats, particularly amid forecasts of hotter, drier conditions associated with El Niño.

Lula’s reelection offers renewed hope for the Amazon. However, sustaining the decline in deforestation will require consistent enforcement, adequate funding and cooperation between government, Indigenous communities and international partners.

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