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Faith in Forests
While Indonesia is deforesting more than ever
Gaia Solaris
February 19, 2025
There are many lenses through which to view the profound challenges shaping our world. Climate change continues to accelerate, deepening inequalities and threatening the very ecosystems that sustain life. At the same time, growing political, economic, and social polarisation is eroding democratic processes, making it increasingly difficult to foster collective action for the common good.
This week, our eco-story highlights an inspiring leader at the forefront of an initiative that transcends ideological, cultural and religious divides. By focusing on the shared responsibility of protecting our environment, and all life within it, this effort demonstrates how faith-based collaboration can be a powerful force against the fragmentation of our societies.
Scroll down to read the story of Carlos Vicente and the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative.
🗞️ In Climate News
🇮🇩 Surge in legal land clearing pushes up Indonesia deforestation rate in 2024
Indonesia’s deforestation increased in 2024 to its highest level since 2021, with forest area four times the size of Jakarta lost; 97% of this occurred within legal concessions, highlighting a shift from illegal to legal deforestation.
🇲🇽 Oaxaca Indigenous leader’s murder leaves land defenders’ safety in doubt
Since the country began to develop the Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a large railroad project that runs across several Indigenous territories, including Romero’s, communities have reported dispossession, increased criminalization and violence.
🌡️ January 2025 was the hottest January on record beating 2024 by 0.1°C
🇺🇸 Jeff Bezos fund ends support for climate group amid fears billionaires ‘bowing down’ to Trump
🇳🇴 Norwegian oil giant cuts green investment in half
Chief executive Anders Opedal said that the transition to lower carbon energy was moving slower than expected, costs had increased, and customers were reluctant to commit to long term contracts.
🧠 A dramatic rise in microplastics found in human brains, study finds
🗽 New York sued by 22 US states over $75 billion climate superfund
Twenty-two states, led by West Virginia, are suing to block a recently approved New York law that requires fossil fuel companies to pay billions of dollars a year for contributing to climate change.
🇧🇷 Yanomami tribe hails Lula’s fight against illegal mining in Amazon
🏴 The climate crisis is forcing two-thirds of England’s farmers to make changes
🇺🇸 Trump aggressively working to dismantle U.S. efforts to fight climate change
Among the many big moves taken by the Trump administration, boosting fossil fuel development has been a priority. In a series of actions, President Trump is following through on his promise not just to ramp up oil and gas production, but to sharply curtail any effort to deal with climate change. William Brangham reports.
📈 Cool Trends
♾️ eco-story
Faith is an important part of Carlos Vicente’s story.
“Faith is the foundation of my life.”
Carlos’ mother was from the northeast of Brazil.
“Her parents migrated from the northeast to the south. When they arrived, they were drawn into the slavery system, so my grandfather decided to return to the northeast. Even though their situation there was very difficult, they were free, they were not slaves. They took a ship to travel back to the northeast, but it was damaged along the way, and they needed to get off the boat in Cabo Frio, so my mother’s family started a new life in this very small town.”
🌏 The Culture Column
📺 What we’re watching: IRI at the Amazon Summit 2023
📸 Profile of the week: @iribrasil
📖 What we’re reading: Glimpses of Utopia: Real ideas for a fairer world, by Jess Scully
🤯 Shocking fact we learnt this week: Over 40% of global tropical deforestation occurs in Brazil