It was not a surprise but now it is official. Deforestation in the Amazon grew 9.5% between August 2019 and July 2020 in comparison to the previous season, which is equivalent to over 11,000 km². The figures are from INPE (National Institute for Space Research) and signify, no more, no less, the largest area of deforestation recorded since 2008 in the region, when Prodes registered 12,911 km². In the sad leadership of the rankings of Brazilian states is Pará, with almost half of the deforestation in this season.

According to the Climate Observatory (OC), the publication formalizes Brazilian non-compliance with the targets of the National Policy on Climate Change (PNMC). While the law defined a rate reduction of a maximum of 3,925 m², the reality shows that the country has exceeded this by 180%. Clearly, this fact places Brazil at a disadvantage in its attempt to comply with its commitments under the Paris Agreement.

“Taking into account that the average of the ten years prior to the inauguration of Jair Bolsonaro, deforestation grew by 70%: from 2009 to 2018, the average calculated by INPE was 6,500 km2 per year,” says the OC. Read the press release of the NGO and also the report in O Globo .