This month, all eyes are on Rio de Janeiro as the city hosts the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the first time the iconic sporting event has been held in South America.
Although Rio’s environmental issues related to the Games have been well-documented, as a nation Brazil has taken some important steps toward sustainability in recent years.
As the Games begin, remember that, like the Olympics themselves, Brazil’s decisions stretch far beyond Brazil. They affect the wider world we all call home.
Ben Koses is an intern for Conservation International.
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Cover image: Wild golden lion tamarins like this one are found only in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, which provides critical fresh water to some of the country’s largest cities. (© Conservation International/photo by Russell A. Mittermeier)
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