Liberalism of the late 19th century and its reformation in neoliberalism in the late 20th century in Latin America have led to climate disasters around the world. Industrialization and utilizing vast areas of land for commodity production once uplifted Latin American nations in the global market. Measuring their progress in terms of “steam engines, railroad mileage, or gas lights” (Burns 135), Latin American countries, exploited their natural resources to align themselves with the Western world.
Latin American nations today now are held responsible to preserve the environment and prevent any futher damage on the ecosystems within their countries. Beginning in the late 19th century, Latin American leaders once believed their duty was to use land to validate their role in the globe but now they must make attempts to reverse the destruction made by their predecessors. Brazil has been one of the most highlighted nations to take on this role. Due to their holding of the Amazon, a region that produces “20% of the world’s oxygen,” but has shrunk by 17% in the last 50 years (Dawson 203), Brazil is held responsible in preserving one of the world’s most valuable forests. Under former President Bolsonaro, deforestation increased at alarming levels, which then factored into his loss in Brazil’s 2022 election against President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula. Covered by Patrick Greenfield and Fiona Harvey for The Guardian, as one of his many goals for Brazil during his term, ‘“Lula told the climate summit [Cop27] that his administration would go further than ever before on the environment by cracking down on illegal gold mining, logging and agricultural expansion, and restoring climate-critical ecosystems.” As all of Latin America has a history of exploiting their land or allowing foreign businesses to do the same, Lula “vowed to work with other Amazonian countries – including Peru, Colombia, Guyana and Venezuela – to work towards sustainable development in the region while also protecting key ecosystems.” He details some of the many climate disasters that arise out of the climate crisis such as tropical storms in the U.S., droughts and floods in his own nation, to emphasize how everyone has a key role in preserving the climate as they are all equally held accountable for the Amazon’s deforestation and affected by its consequences.
Although Brazil, like its Latin American neighbors, is taking on their role to preserve their respective ecosystem, Lula ensures to hold the Global North responsible as well. If not for Western Europe and the U.S.’ own pressures on Latin America to rapidly industrialize and give up their land in the 19th and 20th century, the climate crisis potentially would not have been nearly as bad as it is today. Lula reminds the Global North of their promises to finance and support the Global South’s efforts to fight climate change as they are all responsible for the planet’s safety and humanity’s survival.
Dawson, Alexander. Latin America since Independence: A History with Primary Sources. 3rd ed. New York: Routledge, 2022.
Greenfield, Patrick, Harvey Fiona, “Lula Vows to Undo Environmental Degradation and Halt Deforestation,” (November 16, 2022) [https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/16/lula-vows-to-undo-brazils-environmental-degradation-and-halt-deforestation] (Accessed on 12/10/2022).