The Lungs of the Earth Have Started to Supply Carbon Dioxide

 Written By ??? Edited By ???, ???, and ???

     Environmentalists have always been concerned about preservation of the Amazon rainforest. It plays an essential role in the battle against climate change. August usually indicates the beginning of the fire season in Brazil, with most fires occurring in September. However, the wildfires in the Amazon rainforest this year are even more devastating than the previous year, as it has been emitting large amounts of carbon dioxide. 

     These wildfires are not simply natural disasters; in fact, they are ascribable to human activities which were encouraged by Brazil's President, Jair Bolsonaro. Owing to the fact that Brazil is one of the main suppliers of commodities in the world, residents earn a living by mining, farming, and animal husbandry. What’s more, to plant soybeans and raise cattle, they need to cut down trees, and this has led to environmental degradation. According to the research done by the INPE on August 20, the number of fires in Brazil in 2019 was 77% higher than in 2018. With the intention to boost economic development, the President of Brazil did not properly control the exploitation of the rainforest. This is deemed the main reason behind the ecological imbalance in the Amazon. 

     The damage done to the Amazon, also known as the Lungs of the Earth, has become the major cause behind the acceleration of climate change, as it is releasing carbon dioxide rather than oxygen to the Earth's atmosphere. Besides, due to the widespread fires in the Amazon, the rainforest has gradually lost its function of contributing 6% of the Earth’s oxygen each year and has emitted 500 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, which amounts to a 20% increase (2018). Every minute, a soccer-field size of rainforest is lost to wildfires and it will take more than a century for every loss to grow back. If the world's largest rainforest disappeared, it could bring catastrophe to weather patterns and air quality worldwide. 

     Regarding deforestation in Brazil, the Brazilian government has been criticized by European countries, as Brazil failed to abide by the Paris Agreement. Brazil promised to lower its emissions by 37% from 2005 levels by 2025, yet last year’s emissions already exceeded 17%. To deny the criticism, the Brazilian Vice President, Hamilton Mourao, planned a three-day visit to the Amazon for foreign ambassadors; however, it is claimed by the visitors that the flying route was strategically planned to avoid the damaged part of the forest. With the growth of international concern about the wildfires in the Amazon, can the Brazilian government truly implement the regulations and solve this global crisis? 

T 組 組長 ：傅暄淇 組員：宋子瑜、簡芝伶、吳冠瑩

(Peer Review) 解如意 劉聖英 卓悅銘 洪鈺瑄