Criticism of President Jair Bolsonaro’s environmental policies widens; darkness descends two hours early in São Paulo.

Thick smog continued to hang over Amazonian cities Wednesday, with local hospitals reporting an increase in respiratory problems.

Data from Brazil’s space research agency released Wednesday add to growing evidence of surging deforestation in Brazil, an issue that is emerging as an obstacle to the region’s recent landmark trade deal with the European Union. Mr. Bolsonaro, who has jokingly nicknamed himself “Captain Chainsaw,” favors loosening environmental protections to spur economic activity and has clashed with European governments and environmentalists over their concerns about the destruction. The number of forest fires in Brazil, mainly across the Amazon, has soared 84% this year compared with the same period last year, the highest since records began in 2013 ...

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