South America
Colombia’s new president Gustavo Petro pledges to keep fossil fuels in the ground
The victory of the left-wing candidate in Sunday’s election could make Colombia the largest fossil fuel producer to ban new production
Brazil accused of backsliding in updated climate pledge to UN
While the Bolsonaro administration has nominally increased its 2030 target, a baseline shift allows Brazil to emit more than under its first Paris pledge
‘They put a gun to my head’: Colombian anti-fracking activist tells of ordeal
In an exclusive interview with Climate Home, 21-year-old Yuvelis Natalia Morales speaks out on the activism that nearly cost her her life
Amazon indigenous community restores giant freshwater fish and thrives
Through control of their territory, the Deni people sustainably manage stocks of pirarucu, boosting their numbers 425% in 11 years
Indigenous peoples in Guatemala demand sovereignty over oil and mining resources
The case could set an international precedent for indigenous people to control resources on their land, which they say is critical to climate action
Drought-hit town hopes Chile’s new leader will take back water from Big Avocado
Leftist Gabriel Boric won a landslide to become Chile’s president and backs reform to improve water rights and access for communities like Petorca
UK and EU must not abet the theft of indigenous territory in Brazil
Brazil’s indigenous people are anxiously awaiting a supreme court judgement on our land rights. Proposed new laws in the EU and UK will profoundly affect us too
On the edge of the Amazon, Manoki people grow soy and fight for land rights
In Mato Grosso, an indigenous group that was almost wiped out by white settlers is balancing tradition and modern agriculture to survive
Conservationists back indigenous peoples’ call to protect 80% of the Amazon by 2025
Members of the IUCN Congress overwhelmingly backed the motion but Brazilian experts warn the verdict will likely be ignored by Bolsonaro’s government
On a mission: Evangelicals flock to the Amazon home of isolated tribes
On Brazil’s border with Peru, evangelical churches are multiplying, in a threat to uncontacted indigenous groups
Brazil plans to prop up coal sector, defying calls for a global phase out
The government has published a plan for the ‘sustainable’ use of coal that would allow the fossil fuel to be burnt until 2050
Argentina pitches green debt swap, with the Pope’s blessing
Pope Francis is the unlikely champion of a pioneering green debt relief plan for Argentina, but it is a politically sensitive issue in his home country
‘Hot air’ carbon offset scheme undermines Colombia’s climate goal, experts warn
Colombia stands to lose $62m in carbon tax revenue and underperform its emissions targets due to flawed forest carbon credit projects, investigators claim
Months after criminal probes launched, Brazilian environment minister quits
Ricardo Salles is the subject of two police investigations into collusion with loggers illegally cutting down the Amazon rainforest
Brazil’s environment minister investigated for illegal logging cover-up
The Supreme Court authorised the federal police to investigate Ricardo Salles over suspicions of a ‘serious scheme’ to facilitate the export of illegal timber out of Brazil
In Amazon protection talks, US demands action from Bolsonaro
Joe Biden promised to mobilise $20 billion to protect the Amazon rainforest, but negotiations with Jair Bolsonaro’s government are fraught
Colombia banks on forest economy to deliver climate ambition leap
Since the end of a 50-year civil war, Colombia has seen a spike in forest clearance, that the government now hopes to reverse with agroforestry initiatives
The net tightens around illegal logging operations in Pará, Bolsonaro’s stronghold
Uruará voted for Brazil’s rightwing president hoping for a more relaxed approach to illegal logging, but enforcement agencies are cracking down
Brazil sets ‘indicative’ goal of carbon neutrality by 2060
Brazil is seeking to join the net zero club, but campaigners denounced its pledge as meaningless while deforestation rises under President Bolsonaro
Brazil must reverse deforestation trends before EU finalises Mercosur trade deal
Imazon study finds indigenous people’s territories at greatest risk from forest clearance as a result of growing agricultural activity under the agreement