Sustainable Consumption Governance in the Amazon

Abstract:     
Tropical deforestation is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, estimated to contribute as much as a quarter of global emissions. In the Brazilian Amazon, the two most important drivers of deforestation have become cattle ranching and soybean cultivation, both increasingly export-driven. While this commodity-driven paradigm threatens to accelerate deforestation as producers expand their participation in international markets, it also provides an opportunity for sustainable consumption governance. This article characterizes the problem of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon; describes the sustainable consumption governance regimes that are emerging; and analyzes their likely impact on Amazonian deforestation. It argues that sustainable consumption governance initiatives in the Amazon have the potential to enhance compliance with strict but under-enforced Brazilian forestry laws and reduce deforestation.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 9

Keywords: tropical deforestation, sustainable consumption, Brazilian Amazon, agricultural exports, cattle ranching, soybean production, biofuels, governance, climate change

JEL Classification: K32

Accepted Paper Series