John,

Brazil’s Congress just passed a bill that would be the death sentence for the Amazon – but President Lula has 2 weeks left to veto it!

The bill, dubbed the 'devastation bill', will significantly weaken environmental safeguards in Brazil. Agribusinesses, fossil fuel corporations, and mining companies could essentially sign off their own permits in the future.

Now, it’s up to President Lula to reject this bill. He knows that as the host for the crucial climate talks happening in less than 100 days, approving this bill would look really bad. But he’s under massive pressure from industry and the conservative Congress to greenlight the law.

If there’s a huge public backlash, Lula could use his veto and scrap the bill. But we have to act fast: Let’s make him feel the pressure from all across the world NOW!

President Lula: Be a climate champion - veto the devastation bill!

Hundreds of organizations and countless Indigenous communities have been fighting against this bill, which they say is the worst environmental setback for the country in over 40 years. It will basically allow extractive industries to sign off their own environmental licensing – destroying the Amazon, Pantanal and Cerrado.

The law would also be devastating for the livelihoods of thousands of Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities: According to a Brazilian NGO that advocates for traditional people, 32.6% of all Indigenous territories and 80% of Quilombola communities would be excluded from future impact studies.

Lula has been in the dilemma of trying to secure economic prosperity for his people while keeping his promise to curb deforestation and protect Brazil’s natural heritage. From auctioning off oil drilling permits in the Amazon to approving a mega highway cutting through its heart, he’s already caved to industry pressure.

But this bill would be the absolute death sentence for the Amazon rainforest and all the other incredible natural habitats – a price not only Brazil but the world cannot afford to pay if we want to curb runaway climate catastrophe. And as the host for this year’s make-or-break climate talks, Lula knows the world is watching.

He's got less than 2 weeks left to veto this horrific bill. Let’s turn on the heat and let him know we need him to be bold and shut this bill down:

President Lula: Be a climate champion - veto the devastation bill!