Brazilian President’s Approach to Amazonian Deforestation Leans on ‘Old Corruption Schemes’ and US Funding: Analysts

An aerial view showing a boat speeding on the Jurura river in the municipality of Carauari, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon Forest, on March 15, 2020. Florence Goisnard/AFP via Getty Images

Politicians who vow to end deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon aren’t anything new. However, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva claimed he could pull it off by 2030 with assistance from U.S. President Joe Biden.

When the Brazilian president—commonly known as Lula—made a passionate campaign promise in 2022 to end Amazonian deforestation, it was an instant crowd-pleaser among climate change advocates.