Connecting Life on Land (SDG 15) with Planetary Justice in the Amazon

In this chapter, we present the challenges for the implementation of SDG 15 (life on land) in the global South, through the assessment of the situation of the Amazon rainforest during and after the administration of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil (2019–2022). We show that the rise in deforestation happened in tandem with the increase of hunger, poverty, and human rights abuses. Equipped with recent literature on the SDGs and “planetary justice,” we argue that the implementation of the SDG 15 alone is not enough for preserving biodiversity in the Amazon. It must occur together with the pursuit of other SDGs, especially SDGs 1, 2, and 3, in line with the goals for a safe and just planet.