Brazil Takes Steps to Protect Environment on Amazon Day
Welcome to the Americas Climate Review!
Whether you’re a returning or new subscriber, I am excited to have you here. Every week, I provide essential updates on climate change and sustainability in the Americas. The newsletter is divided into sections that include in-depth analysis, important updates, exceptional initiatives, and sustainability events and media.
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Brazil Takes Steps to Protect Environment on Amazon Day
On Amazon Day, which was celebrated yesterday in Brazil, the president homologated two new indigenous lands and signed decrees to protect the environment and the rainforest. The goal is to highlight the change in the direction of the environmental issue in the country and advance a new development model that considers the bioeconomy and respects local populations. President Lula’s administration has recently announced a new program to slow deforestation in the Amazon, offering financial support to municipalities that have reduced deforestation rates the most. Up to $120 million will be invested in technical assistance, and the allocation of funds will be based on the municipality’s performance in reducing deforestation and fires, as measured by official satellite monitoring. This money will come from the Amazon Fund, which has received over $1.2 billion, mainly from Norway, to support sustainable development in the region.
Hurricane Idalia Leaves Gulf Coast Vulnerable to Future Disasters
Florida’s Gulf coast was hit by Hurricane Idalia last week, with gusts of 160mph causing storm surges and leaving over 280,000 people without power. The unusually hot waters in the Gulf, which are linked to the climate crisis, fueled the hurricane’s devastating impact. This has raised concerns about rebuilding in vulnerable areas as the Gulf Coast is already experiencing some of the world’s fastest sea level rise, with climate change intensifying the frequency and severity of storms. Insurance companies are pulling out of some Gulf states, leaving homeowners and businesses with fewer options to finance their recovery. This is a pressing issue in states like Florida and Louisiana, where the pool of uninsured homeowners is growing due to more significant disasters like hurricanes and wildfires.
Caribbean Organizations Request Climate Assistance from President Biden
Over 50 civil society organizations in the Caribbean have written to President Joe Biden and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen asking for more support in responding to climate change, including assistance in obtaining necessary funds to respond to disasters exacerbated by the climate crisis. The letter outlines numerous policy shifts the administration should pursue, including with the International Monetary Fund, which provides development assistance to nations.
Ceibo is a Chilean company that helps the mining industry increase copper production and other important minerals while reducing environmental impact. Their processes allow mining companies to access copper reserves that were previously out of reach. Traditional methods, like leaching, work well for ores near the earth’s surface but not for those deeper down. Ceibo’s technologies help recover copper from these deeper reserves, which make up 70% of all available resources globally.
Copper is a critical element in reducing CO2 and fighting global warming, according to the World Bank. In fact, the demand for copper in the next 30 years will be higher than all copper produced throughout human history. Recently, Ceibo announced an investment of over USD 30 million in their company to accelerate their primary and secondary sulfide leaching process.
Courses
Provider: University of Cambridge
Type: 8-week online program
Events
Accelerating US-emerging market clean energy partnerships
Organizer: Atlantic Council
Theme(s): Renewable energy & technologies
Date: September 8, 2023
Location: Washington, D.C.
Media
Future of Energy Episode 2: Industrial Decarbonization
Provider: World Economic Forum
Type: Video series
