By: Brent Millikan, Latin American Program Director
COP 25: Read the civil society declaration on the crisis of deforestation and burning in the Brazilian Amazon
In December 2019, at COP 25 of the UN Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) in Madrid, Brazilian environmental and human rights activists launched a joint declaration on the crisis of deforestation and burning in the Brazilian Amazon. Signed by over 100 civil society organizations, networks and social movements, the declaration presents a critical analysis of recent trends and drivers of deforestation and burning in the Amazon, as well as consequences for the global climate crisis and other social and environmental impacts. The declaration also presents a call to action, aimed at mobilizing Brazilian society and the international community to take concrete actions to defend the Amazon and the rights of its peoples. The declaration, supported by International Rivers, was issued in English, Spanish and Portuguese:
Read the civil society declaration in English
Read the civil society declaration in Portuguese
Read the civil society declaration in Spanish
The joint declaration followed the organization of a seminar entitled “Deforestation and Burning in the Amazon: Trends, Dynamics and Solutions “ hosted by the Comission for Enviroment and Sustainable Development (CMADS) of the Chamber of Deputies in the Brazilian Congress. The event was held in Brasilia on November 28, 2019. More information about the seminar is available here (in Portuguese): www.inesc.org.br/seminariodesmatamento/
Launching the Declaration
The launching of the joint declaration at COP 25 was accompanied by a short video produced by documentary filmmaker Todd Southgate, together with International Rivers and other partners. The video, with versions in English and Portuguese, includes images from the Amazon and highlights from the Congressional seminar, including testimony from representatives of indigenous peoples, social movements, NGOs and public institutions. International Rivers’ office in Brasília supported the organization of the seminar and the joint declaration of civil society organizations.