"U.S. Aims To Sanction Brazil Deforesters, Adding Bite To Climate Fight"

"RIO DE JANEIRO - The United States is looking to crack down on environmental criminals behind surging deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, using penalties such as Magnitsky sanctions to tackle climate change more aggressively, U.S. sources and officials told Reuters.

The plan represents a major shift in Washington's strategy to combat global warming, adding the bite of direct sanctions to its toolkit of tax incentives, diplomatic nudges and complex, slow-moving multilateral accords.
Deforestation in Brazil hit a 15-year high under outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro, who rolled back environmental protections and pushed for more mining and commercial farming in the Amazon, a crucial buffer against climate change."

Gabriel Stargardter and Brad Haynes report for Reuters November 23, 2022.

Source: Reuters, 11/23/2022