Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is burning at a record rate, according to Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research. The Amazon is often called “the planet’s lungs,” and these fires could have disastrous effects on the fight against climate change. On Wednesday, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro accused nongovernmental organizations of starting the fires, though he did not provide evidence. Critics of Bolsonaro’s administration pointed to its reduced efforts to curb illegal logging, farming and mining in the Amazon as the fire’s true cause. We’ll talk about what the Amazon fires could mean for Brazil and global climate change.
'Earth's Lungs' on Fire as Amazon Burns
23:49
Several of the fires burning in the Amazon rainforest can be seen even from space, as evidenced by this satellite image provided by NASA this month. Brazil's National Institute for Space Research said the country has seen a record number of wildfires this year. (NASA)
Guests:
Jonathan Foley, executive director, Project Drawdown; former executive director, California Academy of Sciences
Jake Spring, correspondent, Reuters
Sponsored