A window into what we are reading at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program

Land Rights Prevail: Indigenous Groups Celebrate Major Win in Brazil

On September 21, Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld Indigenous peoples’ rights to their traditional lands. The judges rejected a proposed cutoff date, which stipulated that Indigenous communities could only hold land titles if they were physically present on the land on October 5, 1988: the date on which Brazil’s current Constitution was adopted.

This decision was welcomed by Indigenous communities across Brazil as a landmark ruling. Yet the ruling is also crucial for global climate efforts because it strengthens Indigenous claims to their territories. These claims are an important measure to combat deforestation, illegal mining, and resource extraction in the Amazon.

Despite this victory for Indigenous rights, concern remains about potential legislative efforts to reinstate the cutoff date. Human Rights Watch is urging Brazil’s administration to expedite the registration of Indigenous territories and protect Indigenous defenders of land rights from targeted violence across the region.

READ | Fully Protecting the World’s Land, Water, and People Through 30 by 30

An Unintended Consequence of the Ukraine War: A Faster Shift to Net Zero Emissions

A report released in September 2023 by the International Energy Agency (IEA) underscores the significance of accomplishing ambitious energy and climate objectives by 2030. These objectives include tripling the capacity for renewable electricity, doubling energy efficiency, and substantially reducing methane emissions.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has also expedited the pursuit of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as the costs of fossil fuels have surged because of the conflict. Aljazeera reports that Europe has seen a 5 percent increase in the utilization of solar and wind power, constituting a remarkable 22 percent of its total electricity generation.

While global attention to energy security issues has intensified, achieving emissions targets also hinges on the commitment of governments and industries to clean energy solutions.

READ | Russia’s War in Ukraine: Green Policies in a New Energy Geopolitics

The Environmental Consequences of Libya’s Flooding

The catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya caused by Storm Daniel has led to thousands of casualties and severe environmental consequences. Yet it is years of conflict and weak governance in Libya which have made the country extremely vulnerable to this type of disaster.

Short-term environmental concerns in Libya may have grabbed the headlines. They include water and sanitation issues (WASH), the safety of dams and infrastructure, pollution from debris and hazardous sites, and impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity. But there are also long-term environmental considerations.

Displacement is one such concern. It is estimated that 43,000 people were displaced in Derna as a result of the storm, on top of the 46,000 internally displaced people already residing in eastern Libya. Additional long-term challenges include unexploded ordnance from conflicts, challenges in solid waste management, and the need for disaster warning and adaptation in the face of climate change.

READ | Q&A: Peter Schwartzstein on Conflict & Climate in Libya