Lula's Brazil Win Is a Victory for Democracy and the Amazon

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been re-elected president of Brazil, defeating right-wing nationalist Flavio Bolsonaro, a victory celebrated as a major win for democracy and the global climate. Lula thanked Brazilians for defending democracy after his win over Bolsonaro, who refused to accept the result and called for the election to be invalidated. The victory is a relief, as Bolsonaro had allied with conservative mayors to hinder voter turnout and received support from Donald Trump. The result is crucial for the Amazon rainforest, which absorbs about 430 million tons of carbon annually. Under Lula, deforestation had already fallen to record lows, whereas Bolsonaro's father, Jair, had overseen soaring deforestation, making Lula's win a global victory for climate efforts.