Brad Haynes

I’m writing to share a story. It’s about a market meant to save the Amazon rainforest, which has ended up profiting people who are speeding its destruction.

Exclusive: Google deal for Amazon reforestation makes Brazilian startup its top carbon credit supplier. #COP30 By @bzbrad Brad Haynes reuters.com/sustainability…

Em português: noticias.uol.com.br/ultimas-notici…

Only a few of those voices could make it into the story, but all of them gave me hope in their collective ability to learn from cautionary tales like this one.

It’s also been a privilege to learn about these new conservation markets – how they can work or fail – from some of the smartest economists, entrepreneurs and public servants trying to get them right.

In one case, federal police said the sales were funding one of the biggest illegal logging rings in the Amazon. I found that alarming, so started digging with my colleagues into every project we could find offering carbon credits to protect the Brazilian Amazon.

Huge thanks to the reporting partners whose talent and dedication made this project possible: Jackie Botts, @brito_ricardo and @jakespring. The pictures by Adriano Machado and @uesleimarcelino are like haunting memories of our reporting trips.

We wanted to know how many were run by people with a public track record of participating in illegal deforestation. The answer surprised me and everyone else that I’ve shown our findings. I hope you’ll give it a read: reuters.com/business/envir…

A couple years ago, I started hearing about Brazilian ranchers with patchy environmental records making millions off conservation projects. These ‘carbon cowboys’ sold credits for companies to offset their greenhouse emissions – but I was curious where all that money was going.

I’m writing to share a story. It’s about a market meant to save the Amazon rainforest, which has ended up profiting people who are speeding its destruction.

Brazil fire brigades fight Amazon blazes off to torrid start in 2024 reuters.com/business/envir…

🚨🇧🇷🚨 AWESOME JOB ALERT 🚨🇧🇷🚨 We're hiring a new Chief Correspondent in Brazil. Curious? My DMs are open. Or ask @gabstargardter and @SEisenhammer how awesome this gig can be: thomsonreuters.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/External_Caree…

Brazil police seize Bolsonaro's passport and accuse him of preparing a decree to overturn election results, then pressuring military chiefs to join an attempted coup. reuters.com/world/americas…

@AnaLankes Opa! Bem-vinda e boa sorte!

Yesterday was my last day in Argentina before beginning a new adventure as The Economist’s Brazil correspondent

Brazil lawmakers pass bill to pave a highway through the rainforest, loosening environmental rules and using conservation money from the Amazon fund. reuters.com/world/americas…

Props to @jakespring for his unmatched expertise and sourcing on the rainforest science. @BrunoKellyphoto was a great partner digging into this story from drought-ravaged Manaus. And it was a pleasure as always to edit with @suzyji

The irony is that Brazil is making real progress against deforestation in the Amazon – down to a five-year low after surging in recent years. But it could be a tinderbox next year. The new government will have to fight fires as hard as they’ve tackled deforestation so far.

The Amazon and its tributaries have hit record lows, as an extreme drought driven by climate change threatens life in the world’s largest rainforest. The worst may be yet to come. A thread on what @jakespring and I discovered about the dangers ahead… reuters.com/business/envir…