Clinton, however, has declared his concern for the Amazon rainforest. While praising this step, Orinoco Oilwatch says Clinton's gesture nonetheless is contradicted by U.S. efforts to boost oil projects within Venezuela. A good deal of the oil exploration rights granted to corporations clash with areas under special legal environmental protection. While in Brazil, Clinton gently nudged the country toward joining an effort to reduce greenhouse gases. As nations prepare for an international conference on global warming in December, the central dispute is over what degree developing countries should share in the burden of cutting emissions, when developed ones have enjoyed the economic benefits of polluting.
Forests help absorb the gases that warm the atmosphere.
Burning those forests adds to the problem.