Catastrophic Climate Risk and Brazilian Amazonian Politics and Policies: A New Research Agenda

Abstract

Climate and deforestation impacts are jeopardizing the resilience of the Amazon rainforest, one of the key elements in the Earth’s climate system whose dieback may trigger catastrophic climate change. The potential degree of climate risk that the planet is facing, and current Brazilian Amazonian politics and policies, make it alarmingly conceivable that a tipping point will be crossed that leads to savannization of the forest. However, the social science research community has not yet acknowledged this possibility. A timely revision of the research agenda is needed to address this gap.