Amazon Rainforest and International Law

This paper aims to analyze the effect of climate change on the principle of state sovereignty. This study examines the case of the Amazon rainforest, the ‘lungs’ of the earth, which has 60% of its land inside Brazil’s territory and provides a natural ecosystem that helps stabilize the world’s climate. This rainforest plays a crucial role by absorbing carbon dioxide (approximately 2 billion tons of CO2 per year, or 5% of the planet’s annual emissions). This study adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to the different principles of public international law. Our methodology allows us to address questions about the conflict between permanent sovereignty over natural resources principles and demands for global environmental protection. This paper covers the characteristics of the principle of permanent sovereignty over natural resources and its limits by focusing on the idea of a common heritage for humanity. This research focuses on substantial responses that international law can provide to the questions: “Is the idea of internationalizing the Amazon admissible? Wouldn’t intervention to protect the Amazon Forest even if it violates the territorial sovereignty of Brazil?” Through an international law approach, this study addresses questions about the conflict of permanent sovereignty over natural resources principle with demands for global environmental protection. The theoretical framework relies on different legal principles of international law, particularly on the principle of state sovereignty.