Climate change in the Amazon: Extreme weather threatens global stability!

Climate change in the Amazon: Extreme weather threatens global stability!

Have you heard about the latest findings about the Amazon rainforest? In a recent study published in the journal Communications Earth and Environment, researchers from the universities of Leeds, Leicester and INPA in Brazil found that rainfall in the Amazon has changed significantly over the past 40 years. Loud Mainpost Since 1980, rainfall in the rainy season has increased by up to 22 percent, while it has fallen by up to 13 percent in the dry season. This has led to greater seasonal differences, which is also related to changing temperatures in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

An interesting aspect of the study is the use of oxygen isotopes in the annual rings of the tree species Cedrela odorata and Macrolobium acaciifolium to reconstruct past rainfall amounts. Co-author Bruno Cintra points out how important the Amazon is for the Earth's entire climate system. Such changes could not only affect access to water and food for millions of people, but also negatively impact global climate stability.

The COP30 climate conference – A look at Belém

The upcoming UN climate conference COP30, which will take place in Belém, Brazil at the end of 2025, is getting closer and closer. However, residents of the city, including people from Vila das Barcas - the largest pile-dwelling settlement in Latin America - feel excluded. While millions of dollars are being spent on the conference, local people see no benefits. That reports daily news.

Edilson Farias, a local resident, reported the poor conditions that exist despite the investments. Although the city government is planning several construction projects, many residents believe that the measures are not in their best interests. In the background, a lot of rainforest is being cleared to make room for new bypass roads. This loss has a negative impact on the quality of life of residents, who have to contend with dust, potholes and even cracks in their homes.

The Amazon is facing a critical turning point

The changes in the Amazon are not without consequences. According to another study published in the journal Nature, the southeastern Amazon has already reached the critical point where it has transformed from a carbon sink to a carbon source. Up to 47 percent of the rainforest is threatened by droughts and fires by the middle of the century PIK Potsdam.

This is alarming because the Amazon stores carbon equivalent to 15 to 20 years of human CO2 emissions. Large-scale loss of forests would further accelerate global warming. It is therefore essential that both local and global efforts are made to stop deforestation and reforest the forest. Time is of the essence because the Amazon's limits are not far away.

In these challenging times, we must take action that prioritizes not only the protection of the rainforest, but also the rights and needs of local communities. The Amazon is not only a part of nature, but also an important habitat for many people who rely on its resources.