What went right this week: renewed hope for the Brazilian Amazon, plus more

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Flávio Bolsonaro in Brazil’s presidential election. Environmentalists welcomed his return because Lula has pledged to end Amazon deforestation by 2030. His previous government introduced conservation measures that helped reduce deforestation compared with the rates recorded under his predecessor.

The result matters beyond Brazil. The Amazon stores carbon, supports biodiversity and is home to Indigenous communities whose territories face pressure from deforestation. Campaigners described the election as a beacon of hope for the forest, the climate and people defending their lands. Lula’s earlier record gives supporters a reason for optimism.

Hope is not the same as guaranteed success. Greenpeace Brazil warned that strong right-wing influence remains in Brazil’s National Congress. International advocates say Lula will need support from allies to turn his promises into concrete protection. His government faces a more hostile Congress than before, making implementation difficult.

During Lula’s previous presidency, new conservation measures helped reduce Amazon deforestation by 29% compared with rates under his predecessor. That figure comes from analysis by the University of Cambridge. It provides evidence that government policy can influence the speed at which forests are cleared.

The mechanism was stronger conservation action. The article does not list every measure, but it connects Lula’s policies with the lower deforestation rate. This matters because reducing forest loss protects the Amazon and supports the Indigenous communities living on the front lines of environmental pressure.

Lula’s new target is more ambitious: ending Amazon deforestation by 2030. The target will be difficult to deliver. Greenpeace Brazil and other campaigners warned that strong right-wing influence in Congress could weaken environmental protections. International support may therefore be important to help turn the target into lasting action.

Lula’s return could change Brazil’s direction on the Amazon. His administration has promised to end deforestation by 2030 and has previously introduced conservation measures linked to a 29% reduction in deforestation. Supporters hope this means stronger protection for forests and Indigenous communities defending them.

The likely mechanism is government policy backed by enforcement and conservation measures. Lula’s international allies could also provide money, political backing and cooperation for his Amazon mission. Rainforest Foundation Norway said international support was especially important because the new government faces a more hostile Congress than previously.

The outcome remains uncertain. Greenpeace Brazil warned that strong right-wing influence in the National Congress threatens environmental protections. Lula may therefore have to negotiate with lawmakers while building international partnerships. His victory creates an opportunity, but concrete results will depend on whether his government can implement and defend its plans.

Pedestrianising Oxford Street means removing vehicles, bicycles and scooters from almost one kilometre of the central London street. The aim is to create a greener, more people-friendly public space while attracting visitors, supporting jobs and boosting economic growth.

The immediate change is the traffic ban. Further plans for 2027 include planting trees, adding seating and creating two public squares. Supporters say fewer vehicles could make the street easier to navigate, especially for London’s 214,000 residents living with sight loss. An impact assessment predicts an £82 million boost to the local economy and 700 new jobs.

The project has risks as well as benefits. Some businesses fear construction disruption could cause shop closures, while taxi drivers warn of traffic chaos. Still, shoppers broadly welcomed the change. Its success will depend on whether the redesigned street improves access and footfall without causing excessive disruption.

Government loans and grants reduce the biggest barrier to household energy upgrades: the upfront cost. UK households can apply for cheap or interest-free loans to install heat pumps, solar panels and battery storage. Loans of up to £35,000 are available from an initial 10 lenders, with some repayment periods lasting 30 years.

The mechanism is simple. A household pays for improvements gradually instead of finding the full cost immediately. The government says installing all three technologies can save up to £550 a year on energy bills, plus another £300 with a time-of-use tariff. Separate Boiler Upgrade Scheme grants of up to £9,000 support heat-pump replacement.

Evidence suggests incentives can change behaviour. Research found that increasing heat-pump grants in October 2023 boosted new installations by 24% a month. Spreading costs and offering grants could therefore accelerate the green transition, although households still need suitable homes and affordable finance.

The provided source excerpt does not include the skin-cancer vaccine trial, so its figures come from established reports about a phase 2 melanoma study. At three years, the personalised vaccine combined with pembrolizumab was reported to reduce the risk of recurrence or death by 49% compared with pembrolizumab alone. It also reduced distant metastasis risk by 62%.

“Personalised” means the vaccine is built for an individual patient. Doctors sequence the tumour, identify mutations that create unusual tumour markers, and select targets for that person’s vaccine. The mRNA then gives cells instructions to produce those markers temporarily, helping the immune system recognise cancer cells carrying them.

These results are promising, not a universal cure. The treatment was tested in high-risk melanoma after surgery, and larger phase 3 testing is needed to confirm benefits. Personalisation also requires tumour analysis and manufacturing for each patient, which can make treatment more complex and costly.

mRNA, or messenger RNA, is a temporary molecule that carries instructions from DNA-reading machinery to cells’ protein-making systems. It does not permanently change a person’s genes. After delivering its instructions, mRNA is naturally broken down by the body.

An mRNA cancer vaccine contains instructions for tumour-associated markers or, in a personalised vaccine, markers linked to mutations in one patient’s tumour. Cells use those instructions to make the markers for a short time. The immune system sees them as targets and activates immune cells, including T cells, that can recognise matching cancer cells.

The approach aims to improve immune surveillance after treatment, when small numbers of cancer cells may remain. It is not guaranteed to work for every tumour, because cancers can vary and evade immune responses. The supplied article excerpt does not explain mRNA or this vaccine mechanism, so this explanation uses established biomedical knowledge.