OTTAWA—Part environmental scare, part diplomatic spat, the situation surrounding the fires in the Amazon has captured the attention of world leaders and galvanized activists intent on pushing them to do more to combat climate change. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist admirer of Donald Trump, has refused to accept a $26.5-million aid package developed during the recent Group of Seven summit because of his disgruntlement with French President Emmanuel Macron. He said Tuesday that Brazil would only accept the G7 offering if Macron withdrew comments he made questioning Bolsonaro’s commitment to preserving the largest tropical rainforest on Earth. Meanwhile, Canada says its own separate commitment of $15 million and water bombers to help combat the fires is moving along. Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland has spoken with her Brazilian and Bolivian counterparts about the situation, and Canada’s money—destined for those two countries, plus Peru and Paraguay—is still on the table, her office said Tuesday.“Countries are currently assessing their needs and Canada stands ready to help,” said Freeland’s spokesperson, Adam Austen, in a statement to the Star.Leaders were gripped with the situation in the Amazon during the G7, after Brazil’s space institute reported the number of fires in the South American country is nearly twice as high so far this year compared with the pace in 2018. That had world leaders sounding the alarm, with Macron calling for action to save the “lungs of the planet,” and demonstrators urging the protection of the Amazon in protests outside Brazilian embassies in various countries. Even Leonardo DiCaprio’s Earth Alliance organization got in on the action, reportedly pitching in $6.6 million this week to help local groups protect the rainforest. Here’s a deeper look at what’s going on in the Amazon, and why it matters.How bad are the fires?Brazil& ...
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