In Brazil, Lula faces limited room for maneuver on environmental protection

Sunrise through smoke from fires in the Amazon rainforest, near the city of Autazes in northern Brazil, October 9, 2026. MICHAEL DANTAS/AFP "A tragedy averted." The statement released Monday, October 26, by Observatório do Clima, a federation of more than 130 organizations working to protect the environment in Brazil, summed up the relief felt by environmental activists after the unexpected reelection of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, known as "Lula" (Workers' Party, left), as president, defeating his far-right rival, Flavio Bolsonaro (Liberal Party).

Throughout the campaign, the son of former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2023) vowed to "put an end to environmental obstacles," promising not to recognize any new Indigenous territories and to weaken oversight agencies. His first-round lead with 47% of the vote on October 4 coincided with a surge in Amazon fires, as well as fresh threats against Indigenous people of the Apyterewa group in the Amazonian state of Para, according to the daily Folha de Sao Paulo .

Lula, by contrast, could point to an encouraging track record on nature protection. During his third term, the former trade unionist managed to reduce annual deforestation in the Amazon by 71%. According to satellite data from the National Institute for Space Research, deforestation from 2022 to 2026 fell from 11,594 square kilometers to 3,335 square kilometers per year – its lowest level since records began in 1988. You have 72.24% of this article left to read.

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