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Amazon deforestation 'record low' | Amazon deforestation 'record low' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
The rate of deforestation in the Amazon has dropped by 45% and is the lowest on record since monitoring began 21 years ago, Brazil's government says. | |
According to the latest annual figures, just over 7,000 sq km was destroyed between July 2008 and August 2009. | According to the latest annual figures, just over 7,000 sq km was destroyed between July 2008 and August 2009. |
The drop is welcome news for the government in advance of the Copenhagen summit on climate change. | The drop is welcome news for the government in advance of the Copenhagen summit on climate change. |
But Greenpeace says there is still too much deforestation and the government's targets are not ambitious enough. | But Greenpeace says there is still too much deforestation and the government's targets are not ambitious enough. |
According to the Brazilian space agency, which monitors deforestation in the Amazon, the annual rate of destruction fell by 45%. | According to the Brazilian space agency, which monitors deforestation in the Amazon, the annual rate of destruction fell by 45%. |
Green credentials | Green credentials |
Welcoming the news, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described the drop in the level of deforestation as "extraordinary". | Welcoming the news, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva described the drop in the level of deforestation as "extraordinary". |
He said climate change was the most challenging issue the world was facing. | He said climate change was the most challenging issue the world was facing. |
The Brazilian government will undoubtedly view the latest figures as a boost to its green credentials coming just before the Copenhagen summit in December. | The Brazilian government will undoubtedly view the latest figures as a boost to its green credentials coming just before the Copenhagen summit in December. |
At the summit, the Brazilian government seems certain to present its efforts to reduce destruction in the Amazon as a key part of its strategy to combat climate change. | At the summit, the Brazilian government seems certain to present its efforts to reduce destruction in the Amazon as a key part of its strategy to combat climate change. |
The environment ministry here is said to be proposing that around half of a 40% cut in Brazil's carbon emissions would come from reducing deforestation. | The environment ministry here is said to be proposing that around half of a 40% cut in Brazil's carbon emissions would come from reducing deforestation. |
The Brazilian government wants to see an 80% reduction in the deforestation rate by 2020. | The Brazilian government wants to see an 80% reduction in the deforestation rate by 2020. |
The environmental pressure group, Greenpeace, welcomed the latest drop as important, but said that there was still too much destruction in the rainforest. | The environmental pressure group, Greenpeace, welcomed the latest drop as important, but said that there was still too much destruction in the rainforest. |
In a statement, it said the president would be happy if, in 11 years time, the Amazon was being destroyed at a rate of a little less than three cities the size of Sao Paulo a year. | In a statement, it said the president would be happy if, in 11 years time, the Amazon was being destroyed at a rate of a little less than three cities the size of Sao Paulo a year. |
Some environmentalists believe that the fall in deforestation may be connected to the economic downturn, and that when things improve, the Amazon could face renewed pressure. | Some environmentalists believe that the fall in deforestation may be connected to the economic downturn, and that when things improve, the Amazon could face renewed pressure. |
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