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This SEI discussion brief examines the relationship between tropical deforestation and water use in agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically focusing on imports into the European Union. It argues that while current policy focuses on deforestation, overlooking water use may shift environmental burdens to water-scarce regions. The brief identifies critical data gaps for beef and wood products and suggests that a comprehensive definition of sustainable supply chains must integrate both land and water stewardship.

This report provides a gendered analysis of employment and skills within Brazil's large-scale mining (LSM) sector from 2009 to 2019. It examines the 'feminization' of the workforce, identifying that while female employment has increased, significant gaps remain in remuneration, leadership representation, and the division of technical tasks. The study combines quantitative data from the Annual Social Information List (RAIS) with qualitative interviews from three mining companies to assess how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) strategies are being implemented.

This statement highlights the critical role of tropical forests, particularly the Amazon, in maintaining rainfall across Brazil. It warns that continuing historical deforestation trends will lead to severe droughts and unsustainable economic costs for the country, urging the application of existing tools and scientific lessons over the next decade.

This document is a legal bibliography listing the federal and state laws, decrees, and regulations consulted for a 2022 report on the implementation of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA) across various Brazilian states.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative and PUC-Rio analyzes the relationship between forest fires and subsequent deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2013 to 2020. The study finds that while forest fires are not systematically used as a direct first step to clear vegetation in the same location, they serve as a strong leading indicator of imminent deforestation in the surrounding vicinity, particularly in rural settlements and occupied public lands.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from the DETER and PRODES monitoring systems. The study finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, there is a strong spatial association, with a significant portion of deforestation occurring in the immediate vicinity of previously degraded areas, particularly in medium or large private properties, rural settlements, and undesignated areas.

This report analyzes the link between forest fires and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon (2013-2020). It finds that while only 11% of fire-affected forest is directly converted to clear-cut deforestation within three years, fire is a strong indicator of regional risk, with high rates of nearby deforestation. This association is particularly strong in rural settlements and public land holdings, suggesting fire's role in land grabbing. Regional disparities exist, with significant intensification of this pattern in states like Acre and Pará.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from INPE's DETER and PRODES systems. It finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, a significant portion of deforestation occurs in the vicinity of previously degraded areas, suggesting that degradation can serve as a regional risk indicator for future forest loss.

This report analyzes the role of Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) in the prior oversight of federal railway and highway concessions under the Investment Partnership Program (PPI). It examines how the TCU manages socio-environmental risks and the impact of its timing in the project life cycle, specifically regarding the approval of Technical, Economical and Environmental Feasibility Studies (EVTEA).

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the role of the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) in the prior control of socio-environmental risks for federal railway and highway concessions. It argues that the TCU has become the primary, albeit late, instance for approving Technical, Economic, and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA), often filling a governance gap left by the Executive branch. The document examines specific cases to illustrate how the TCU manages environmental liabilities and the risks associated with the 'Manifestation of Interest' (PMI) procurement model.

This working paper by the Green Economy Coalition (GEC) outlines a structural agenda for a green economic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. It distinguishes between short-term stimulus and long-term structural reforms, providing a nested framework of policy measures and a set of prioritisation criteria to help governments transition from immediate crisis management to systemic socio-ecological transformation.

This case study by the Climate Policy Initiative and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-Rio) uses an atmospheric transport model to analyze how deforestation in the Amazon Forest, specifically within the Xingu River Basin, reduces rainfall in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The study demonstrates that forest cover is critical for maintaining humidity in air parcels, and its removal leads to significant decreases in precipitation that threaten agriculture, energy generation, and urban water supplies.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative/PUC-Rio uses an atmospheric transport model to analyze how deforestation in the Amazon, specifically within the Xingu River Basin, impacts rainfall in the state of Mato Grosso. The study demonstrates that forest areas are critical for maintaining air humidity and that their removal leads to a measurable decrease in precipitation, affecting agriculture, energy production, and urban water supplies.

This case study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the governance and environmental risks associated with four federal transport infrastructure projects in the state of Pará: Ferrogrão, BR-155/158, BR-163/230/MT/PA, and BR-230. Using a 'market access approach' to quantify deforestation risks, the study finds that these projects collectively threaten nearly 7,000 square kilometers of Amazonian native vegetation, with over half of the impact concentrated in Pará. The report highlights significant transparency issues regarding project documentation and urges the Pará state government to engage in dialogue with the federal government to integrate deforestation control funding into project designs.

This case study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the governance, areas of influence, and environmental risks associated with four federal transport infrastructure projects in the state of Pará: Ferrogrão, BR-155/158, BR-163/230/MT/PA, and BR-230. Using a 'market access approach' to quantify deforestation risks, the study finds that these projects collectively threaten nearly 7,000 square kilometers of native Amazon vegetation, with over half of that impact occurring in Pará. The report highlights significant transparency issues regarding project documentation and argues that the state government should engage in earlier dialogue with the federal government to incorporate mitigation costs and deforestation control into project designs.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the governance, influence areas, and environmental risks of four federal transport infrastructure projects in the state of Pará: the Ferrogrão railway and the BR-155/158, BR-163/230/MT/PA, and BR-230 highways. The study highlights a systemic lack of transparency in socio-environmental documentation and uses a market-access methodology to quantify the risk of deforestation associated with these projects.

The Guarantee Fund for Biogas (GFB) is a proposed financial instrument designed to unlock public and private credit for independent biogas project developers in Brazil by providing construction-phase loan guarantees. By acting as a CVM-compliant fixed-income fund investing in treasury bills, the GFB addresses the lack of collateral that prevents smaller developers from accessing existing credit lines, aiming to scale Brazil's biogas capacity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the rural credit market in the Brazilian Cerrado biome, highlighting a concentration of financial flows toward large-scale producers and soy production, while noting a scarcity of credit for small and medium-sized family farmers.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the characteristics of rural credit in the Brazilian Cerrado biome. It highlights a significant concentration of financial flows toward large producers and the expansion of soybean production, contrasting this with limited credit access for small and medium-sized family farmers. The study also notes a growing trend of private financing sources, although public banks continue to dominate the distribution of credit.

This policy brief by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the rural credit market in the Brazilian Cerrado biome, highlighting a significant concentration of financial flows toward large-scale producers and soy production, contrasted with limited credit access for small and medium-sized family farmers.