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On the front page of RFI’s environmental newspaper this Friday: Brazil with Lula’s return to lead the country, and therefore in the climate deal, which gives hope to the defenders of the Amazon. But also artificial intelligence laboratories in Africa to fight climate change and applications on smartphone recognize and identify plants
With his visit to COP 27 early next week in Egypt, the new president-elect of Brazil, Lula da Silva, wants to signal to the world that Brazil is back in the climate talks and that his country will stop being the pariah environmental that Jair became during Bolsonaro’s tenure. For four years, his far-right predecessor stopped funding state environmental agencies and encouraged the deforestation of the Amazon for the benefit of agribusiness and criminal activity. Lula, announced that he would hand over the financial and human resources – satellite surveillance, fines for deforestation, etc. – reach a level of zero deforestation “.
The “ flying rivers “
The international community is waiting for him at the turning point because the forest is not only for Brazilians. Currently soiled mainly by gold seekers and cut down mainly to raise livestock, the Amazon plays an essential role in the rain system of South America. It’s a bit like the local natural air conditioning. The moisture produced by the forest is transported by air as far north as Argentina, for example 1,300 km further south. A rather fabulous phenomenon called “flying rivers”.
And then, like any large forest basin, the Amazon stores much less carbon if it’s damaged. ” The role of forest basins is extremely important primarily for biodiversity but also for their role in the local climate”. explains Sébastien Treyer, director general of the Institute for International Relations and Sustainable Development (IDDRI). “Many farmers in southern South America tell themselves that if the Amazon is completely destroyed they will no longer be able to do the farming they do today. “
Beyond the regional consequences of deforestation, what countries are discussing, particularly right now at COP 27 in Sharm-el-Sheikh, is how these large forest basins like the Amazon will be able to store carbon in the future .
From forest to savannah
” Aujourd’hui on en est à un stade où on va passer un point de bascule – et on l’a peut-être déjà passé : au lieu de stocker davantage de carbone, les grands bassins forestiers sont en fait en train d’en émettre more “, warns Sebastien Treyer. Because a cleared and degraded forest does not hold carbon in the same way.“ Trees are important in the forest but not only: all their roots, all the ecosystem under the ground is not at all the same when it is a forest or when it has been transformed into a savannah or an agricultural area “, he specifies.
In order for these forests to still capture the carbon that we humans emit in excess and which warms the planet, the main forest-growing countries such as Brazil, Indonesia or those in the Congo Basin intend to claim greater financial means next week at COP 27 for protect these trees we all need.
Heating or overfishing ?
Alongside forests, there is another large carbon sink on Earth, the oceans. And they also have a gloomy aspect because of us: an increase in their acidity, their temperature and the consequences for all who inhabit them.
Until recently we wondered what was hurting marine biodiversity more: global warming or overfishing? A CNRS team provides the start of an answer with a publication in the prestigious scientific journal Nature. In this study of cod populations in the North Sea, we read that up until 2019, exploitation was the main cause of the decline in fish stocks. It has since reversed. Now it’s global warming, the prime culprit.
Climate data
Luckily sometimes even the wind goes in the right direction. Also on the occasion of COP 27, Microsoft is giving impetus to its “AI for Good” research laboratories. Two new laboratories will open in Africa: one in Nairobi, the other in Cairo. The goal is to set up groups of scientists who will work on the data collected using artificial intelligence to advance the fight against climate change in particular.
App to identify small animals
Finally, have you ever dug in the soil of your garden or nearby park? If not, it’s time to get your hands dirty! Why with yours smartphone, you will be able to participate in a variety of citizen science projects. List ants, woodlice and spiders, for example, to help the National Museum of Natural History evaluate the biological quality of soils. There are also plenty of mobile apps for recognizing that weird green thing you’ve seen growing around the corner. By taking a photo and submitting GPS data, you will aid in tracking the species.
