Brazil's Amazon railway plan would cause global climate chaos

1,000km project would rapidly deforest large areas of the rainforest, wreaking havoc on the planet

Almost 15% of the Amazon rainforest has already been deforested. When this number reaches 20%, the entire Amazonian system will collapse. Picture: Dr Erika Berengue/PA Wire

Despite increasing global concern, president Jair Bolsonaro is determined to expand his exploitation of Brazil’s crucial natural resources. His latest project, one of the most destructive yet, would rapidly deforest large areas of the Amazon.

Bolsonaro’s plan? To construct a 1,000km railway system extending right into the heart of the Amazon rainforest — with trains passing within 500 metres of 726 official environmentally protected areas.