A decision Brazil's state Rondônia risks unraveling four years of work by state inspectors and prosecutors to stem illegal deforestation and cattle farming in the Amazon https://t.co/jaowt7qto6 ...

Brazil’s antitrust regulator ruled in favor of major soybean traders, saying companies including Cargill and Bunge Global are allowed to continue a pact that boycotts crops from recently deforested land in the Amazon https://t.co/Wke0U61YgI ...

The EU will seek to again delay the implementation of its landmark law to tackle deforestation, according to Jessika Roswall, the bloc’s environment commissioner https://t.co/twFpfsPctK ...

Core Insights - The investigation reveals that Diamond Green Diesel, a significant player in the U.S. sustainable fuels market, is sourcing animal fat from cattle raised on illegally cleared lands in the Amazon rainforest, raising concerns about the environmental impact of its supply chain [7][5][3]. Company Overview - Diamond Green Diesel is a joint venture between Darling Ingredients and Valero Energy, with substantial investments in a Texas refinery that converts cattle fat into a cleaner alternative to petroleum-based fuels [6][5]. - The company has received over $3 billion in U.S. tax credits for biofuel production since 2022, indicating its financial backing and growth potential in the sustainable fuels market [5]. Supply Chain Concerns - Reports indicate that at least two Brazilian factories supplying Diamond Green Diesel have sourced cattle fat from slaughterhouses linked to illegally deforested ranches in the Amazon [5][11]. - The tallow trade from these ranches to Diamond Green Diesel has been tracked through various investigative methods, including interviews and government data [8][9]. Market Dynamics - The global market for sustainable jet fuel is projected to be approximately $2.9 billion by 2025, significantly smaller than the $239 billion market for conventional aviation fuel, but expected to grow due to government incentives [3]. - Airlines like JetBlue and Southwest Airlines are under pressure to purchase more green jet fuel to meet net-zero emissions targets by 2050, which may drive demand for tallow as a biofuel [19]. Regulatory and Certification Issues - The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) has certified Diamond's imports from Brazil as sustainable, but it did not investigate the supply chain, considering tallow a byproduct of the beef industry [20]. - Experts have raised concerns that the current sustainability standards may overlook the deforestation linked to the tallow supply chain, as the program assumes that demand for tallow will not incentivize ranchers to clear more land [21].

Water the elixir of life. The problem is too much of it is chaos. Too little of it is the same.2015 the monsoon had failed. 2016 the city of Burggawi had a water scarcity which was unprecedented. That's when a few people got together and brought out that thing that's taught to everybody in school.When you have more trees, you have more rain. Very childish a thought. But then I guess nothing beats the truth of the innocence of a child who believes that the world can change.And so we believed and we set foot ...

AI Model & Technology - Google DeepMind introduces AlphaEarth Foundations, an AI model integrating petabytes of satellite data for Earth representation [1] - The model provides scientists with near real-time planetary views at incredible spatial precision [1] - New datasets enable significantly faster tracking of deforestation impact and monitoring of crop health [2] Applications & Impact - AlphaEarth Foundations aids in addressing critical issues like food security, deforestation, and water resources [1] - Scientists can now track the impact of deforestation significantly faster [2] - The model facilitates monitoring of crop health more efficiently [2]

Environmental Impact - New Brazil development law poses a risk of increased Amazon deforestation [1] - UN expert warns about the potential negative consequences of the law [1]

Environmental Impact - Deforestation in the Amazon decreased by 50% during Marina Silva's five-year term as environment minister [1] Policy & Politics - Marina Silva's green policies are currently facing scrutiny [1]

Environmental Concerns & Amazon's Significance - The Amazon basin, shared by eight countries, spans over 7 million square kilometers, almost the size of Europe, holding rich biodiversity [3][4] - The Amazon produces 20% of the world's oxygen, holds 20% of the world's fresh waters, 60% of tropical forests, and 10% of all animal and plant species [5][6] - The Amazon can absorb over 2 billion tons of CO2 annually, about 5% of global emissions, but deforestation is approaching a tipping point [6][7] - Deforestation has reached 17-20%, with the tipping point at 25%, potentially causing the rainforest to become a savannah-like ecosystem that releases CO2 [7][8] Threats & Environmental Crime - Illegal mining in areas like the Orinino mining arc in Venezuela, covering approximately 112,000 square kilometers (the size of Portugal), leads to environmental and humanitarian crises [13][14] - Environmental crime, including illegal mining, logging, land grabbing, drug trafficking, and human trafficking, is a vast network spanning the Amazon rainforest [17] Solutions & Call to Action - The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, comprising eight Amazonian nations, signed the Bellon declaration prioritizing security in the Amazon [21][22] - COP 30, the UN's climate change conference, will take place in the Amazon in Belém, Brazil, providing a platform for global leaders to address the issue [22] - Consumers can support environmentally friendly products with certifications like the Rainforest Alliance [24] - A call to action urges young people to push policymakers to cooperate and address the complex network of environmental crime [25][26]

Environmental Concerns - The talk addresses the decreasing forest areas globally [1] - The talk advocates for using eco-friendly materials to reduce wood demand [1] - The talk aims to minimize deforestation through alternative solutions [1] Call to Action - The talk encourages individuals to send a letter to the president regarding deforestation [1] - The talk promotes awareness and action through a TEDx event [1]