Search Climate Insights Directory

The report argues that a carbon price of US$ 20 per ton of CO2 captured would incentivize a shift from cattle ranching to forest restoration in the Brazilian Amazon. This transition could capture 16 Gt of CO2 and avoid 32 Gt of emissions over 30 years, generating US$ 320 billion in revenue. The analysis contrasts this with a historical implicit valuation of US$ 5.76 per ton, which the authors suggest leads toward a critical tipping point of deforestation.

The report finds that deforestation in the Amazon is highly concentrated, with 28% of the biome's deforestation occurring in rural settlements that occupy only 8% of its territory. Specifically, 75% of forest loss in settled areas in 2022 occurred in just 5% of the settlements. The authors argue that targeted interventions in these high-impact areas, combining command-and-control measures with sustainable incentives like payments for environmental services (PSA) and technical assistance, are essential to meeting Brazil's 2030 climate goals.

The report finds that deforestation in the Amazon's rural settlements is highly concentrated, with 5% of settlements accounting for 17% of the biome's total deforestation between 2012 and 2022. It argues that targeting a small group of persistent high-deforestation settlements, often located near federal highways, offers a high-impact opportunity for forest preservation. The authors recommend a combination of strengthened environmental monitoring and enforcement by IBAMA, alongside sustainable incentives such as payments for environmental services (PES) and forest restoration initiatives.

The Low-Carbon Agriculture Transition Mechanism (LATM) is a financial structure designed to decarbonize Brazil's agricultural sector by providing small and medium-sized farmers with long-term loans, technical assistance, and a first-of-its-kind income guarantee. The mechanism targets four specific credit lines: Pasture Recovery, Sustainable Livestock Intensification, Integrated Systems, and Agroforestry and Bioeconomy. It aims to mobilize USD 115 million in total capital—combining commercial, concessional, and grant funding—to reach 78,000 hectares by 2030 and avoid or remove over 187,245 tons of CO2e per year. The implementation follows a three-phase pathway: a Pilot Phase testing components in the Amazon and Cerrado, a Commercial Phase scaling the full structure across three biomes, and a Scale-up Phase reducing dependency on concessional capital.

A review of 41 multisector NAP documents reveals that transboundary climate risks are sporadically mentioned and lack a systematic approach, with most references limited to shared ecosystems like river basins. The document argues that the dominance of place-based adaptation and state sovereignty norms hinder the integration of cross-border risks, and recommends leveraging intergovernmental organizations and territorial framing to improve regional collaboration.

Mighty Earth argues that the Belém Declaration, the outcome of the inaugural Amazon Summit, misses a critical opportunity to combat deforestation by ignoring the role of the meat industry. The author highlights that land conversion for pasture accounts for approximately 80% of the region's deforestation and notes the lack of a unified regional target date for achieving zero deforestation. The document calls for the implementation of a public farm-level traceability system and the use of mobilized climate finance to regulate agribusiness land use to prevent the Amazon from reaching an irreversible tipping point.

The Belém Declaration, signed by eight Amazonian countries, is criticized by Mighty Earth for ignoring the meat industry, which is responsible for approximately 80% of deforestation in the region. The author argues that the document lacks a collective regional target for zero deforestation, relying instead on disparate national goals, and calls for a public traceability system to hold global food companies accountable.

The report analyzes forest replacement policies in the Amazon and Cerrado, arguing that current regulations are outdated because they treat forests as biomass stocks for market supply rather than ecological systems. It highlights that while financial mechanisms like replacement fees exist, funds are rarely directed toward actual restoration. The document specifically criticizes a 2022 law in Goiás for creating exemptions that undermine environmental compensation for agribusiness.

The 31st meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP-31), held in Panama City in June 2023, resulted in the adoption of 23 decisions. Key outcomes include the creation of the IAI Science Diplomacy Center, the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Advisory Committee, and the mandate to develop research programs on the nexus of climate, environment, and health, as well as oceans and coastal systems. The meeting also addressed financial sustainability, noting that voluntary contributions have not increased in over 30 years, and approved the core budget for FY 2023-2024.

Researchers from CPI/PUC-Rio have developed a vegetation-climate model demonstrating that Amazon deforestation causes degradation in distant areas due to water scarcity. The study finds that for every 100 trees deforested, an average of 22 additional trees die in other regions. This process threatens to push the forest toward a 'point of no return,' where a deforestation threshold of 40% could lead to a total climate collapse and a 60% loss of vegetation density.

The report by CPI/PUC-Rio details a climate-forest model showing that Amazon deforestation causes degradation in distant forest regions by reducing the 'flying rivers' of recycled humidity. The model finds that for every 100 trees deforested, an average of 22 additional trees die from water scarcity. The authors warn that if deforestation reaches a 40% threshold, the Amazon could lose over 60% of its vegetation density, resulting in a climate collapse and carbon emissions equivalent to five years of global emissions.

This briefing provides an update on the Initiative for enhancing capacity for climate risk assessment and catalyzing partnerships to inform decisions in Latin America and the Caribbean (LACI). It details the initiative's progress from a scoping and partnership building phase involving 14 countries to a pilot co-design phase featuring four specific projects aimed at strengthening climate risk assessments and data interoperability in the region.

This briefing provides an update on the Initiative for Conducting a National Climate Assessment in Support of Adaptation and Mitigation (LACI), an effort led by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to strengthen climate risk assessments and decision-making in Latin America and the Caribbean.

ClientEarth has filed a legal complaint with the US National Contact Point alleging that Cargill's due diligence processes in Brazil are insufficient to prevent deforestation and human rights abuses. The complaint highlights failures in monitoring soy sourced from the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, as well as issues with indirect land use change and the displacement of Indigenous Peoples. While Cargill has committed to being deforestation-free in the Amazon and Cerrado by 2025, ClientEarth argues these policies lack necessary commitments to be 'conversion free' and fail to address the systemic risks associated with its vast operations in Brazil.

ClientEarth has filed a complaint with the US National Contact Point (NCP) of the OECD against Cargill, arguing that the company's due diligence processes violate OECD Guidelines. The complaint focuses on Cargill's soy supply chain in Brazil, specifically alleging failures to monitor deforestation in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest, a lack of traceability for indirectly sourced soy, and a failure to address indirect land-use change. Additionally, the complaint highlights risks of human rights violations against Indigenous peoples and quilombolas. ClientEarth is seeking the full disclosure of Cargill's due diligence policies and the implementation of more effective procedures aligned with OECD-FAO and UN guidance.

ClientEarth has filed a complaint with the US National Contact Point for the OECD, alleging that Cargill fails to conduct adequate due diligence to prevent deforestation and human rights abuses in its Brazilian soy supply chains. The complaint highlights specific failures regarding the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, indirectly sourced soy, non-owned soy handled at Cargill ports, and indirect land use change. ClientEarth seeks full disclosure of Cargill's policies and the adoption of effective due diligence measures aligned with OECD-FAO and UN guidance.

The document argues that Brazil's Plano Safra must align with climate goals by prioritizing low-carbon credit lines, improving rural insurance for climate resilience, and redirecting constitutional funds toward small-scale sustainable producers.

This briefing provides an update on the Latin America and Caribbean Initiative (LACI), an effort by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to strengthen climate risk assessments and capacity building for adaptation and mitigation in the region.

The report outlines the progress of the LACI initiative, which aims to strengthen climate risk assessments to support local and regional decision-making. Following a scoping phase involving 14 countries to identify priorities and map capacities, the initiative has entered a pilot co-design phase with four specific projects focusing on El Salvador, regional data interoperability, Amazonia, and Jamaica.

The Stakeholder Toolkit, updated in March 2023 by the Forest Declaration Assessment, provides a curated directory of resources, reports, and organizations designed to assist national and local governments in improving forest governance and sustainability.