Bolsonaro’s legacy for science, health and the environment

Four years ago, scientists across Brazil feared the worst when Jair Bolsonaro was elected as the country’s next president. Bolsonaro had promised, for instance, to pull Brazil out of the Paris climate accord, dismantle the environment ministry and reduce the extent of protected areas if he won, writes Meghie Rodrigues for Nature.

Although he didn’t fulfil some of those promises, the president has repeatedly clashed with Brazil’s scientific community and caused lasting damage, according to critics. He has, for example, fired government officials who disagreed with him on issues such as surging rates of deforestation and health measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, which has so far killed almost 700,000 people in Brazil.

Now, Bolsonaro is asking for a second term, and Brazilians will head to the polls next week to vote. In advance of the election, Nature looks at the impacts that Bolsonaro has had on science, health and the environment.
Full report on the Nature site