New Senate bill could help save the Amazon rainforest

Yesterday, Sens. Bob Menendez (NJ-D) and Mike Braun (IN-R) introduced the America Mitigating and Achieving Zero-emissions Originating From Nature for the 21st Century Act, also known as AMAZON21, which would help reduce out-of-control deforestation in climate-critical forests like the Amazon.The proposed bill would provide billions of dollars to support projects in other countries that conserve and protect forests and other ecosystems, which can in turn promote biodiversity and the health of nearby communities. This bill is similar to legislation introduced by Congressman Steny Hoyer (MD) in the House last year. 

If we want to stand a chance at addressing climate change it is critical that we act to both dramatically reduce our own emissions and protect our forests. Given America’s outsized impact on climate change as the second-highest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions in the world, we have a responsibility to use our economic influence to support carbon-mitigation programs in countries who may otherwise be inclined to sacrifice their climate critical forests in the name of economic growth.