Brazil’s environment minister, a renowned former activist, helped push climate change to the top of President Lula’s agenda. Her next task is to do the same thing for the world.

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon fell 30.6% in the 12 months through July compared to the same period a year prior, according to government data released on Wednesday -- the smallest area destroyed in the world's largest rainforest in nine years.

According to official monitoring, Amazon rainforest loss in Brazil dropped by one-third compared to the previous year, according to official monitoring.

A report suggests that further degradation of the Amazon could turn one of the world’s most important carbon sinks into a source of emissions