From North to South, Brazil experiences climate extremes; It's time to recognize and adapt

I even heard speeches that there would be no flood in Rio Grande do Sul and that the Amazon would not dry up. Well, in the North the river dried up and in the South the river overflowed

How many times does a speech need to be repeated before it is finally taken seriously? I believe that every generation has heard about the importance of conserving the environment, not throwing trash on the street, reducing plastic consumption, not cutting down trees, and so many other preachings from teachers and scientists. But the warnings have always been and will be seen as speeches far from reality for those who are denialists.

It turns out that with each passing year, we are facing exactly what scientists predicted. Earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, drought. I ask, how long will humanity continue to be negligent with its actions? Near us, in Brazil, from North to South, we see different tragedies, but they impact people in the same way.

When we look back to the recent past, in 2023, we are faced with the severe drought that hit the Amazon, mainly the state of Amazonas, in which more than 40 communities were isolated, and they were isolated because our roads are our rivers and without them there is no way to travel to urban centers.

The impact of the drought highlighted the importance of structuring actions by public authorities and the need for active listening with the main leaders of Conservation Units.

One of the main problems I hear from these people is the lack of energy, internet, and, of course, water, and they are all interconnected. This problem is evident throughout the year, but during the dry season, it is even more evident. Now, to have internet and facilitate communication outside the community, energy is needed. Without energy, there is no way to collect water from wells and supply homes with clean water.

Within this scenario, it is important to understand the role of public managers in the concern to mitigate these situations that, without a doubt, will be increasingly recurrent. It is important that we as citizens analyze what proposals and what public managers are actually allocating resources for to carry out actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

As much as it is still said that this subject is “sleep talk” or a narrative to cause people to panic, it is undeniable to see that this is the reality we are experiencing and there needs to be a strategy by state, municipal and federal governments. Have you ever questioned how many parliamentarians allocated resources or amendments to resolve or minimize impacts? What resources were allocated to reduce deforestation and fires, in the case of the Amazon? And how is Pampa, in Rio Grande do Sul?

If, on the one hand, in the North we had a shortage of water, in the South we are witnessing an excess of it, causing destruction wherever it reaches and mowing down several municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul.

It is necessary to evaluate ecosystems not as a delay for territories, but it is necessary to look at the Pampa, the Cerrado, the Amazon and all biomes as environments that need to be treated in a special way, because we know the importance of continuing to conserve and preserve, not only for our country, but also from a global point of view.

More than ever, action needs to be taken to combat the narrative that the problems that are occurring regarding climate are just natural disasters. Could it be? Yes, but these disasters have much more to do with human actions against the environment and the planet's reaction.

I even heard speeches that there would be no flood in Rio Grande do Sul and that the Amazon would not dry up. Well, in the North the river dried up and in the South the river overflowed its banks. In 2023, the situation of the Gauchos was alarming, but this year everything got worse, the impacts prove this. In a few months the drought will begin in the North. Will it be worse than last year's situation?

So, I reaffirm that it is necessary to think about resilience actions, but, above all, strategic political actions, looking at the biomes of our Brazil and everything that is possible to develop in these territories. Furthermore, it is necessary to consider the new reality and look for alternatives, already implemented in other countries, to contain situations like these.

In addition to public policy actions, today it is also necessary to think about rebuilding these people's lives and allocating resources for adaptation, because they will not be able to return to the cities that were underwater. And I have another question about this: Are these people considered climate refugees within their own country? How will these people adapt in a different environment? Because we are not just talking about the physical structure of houses, it is a loss of culture, of tradition. How much does all this cost? It is necessary to carry out an analysis of the socio-environmental damage.

Because if there were doubts, after the pandemic that we have experienced for two years, that denialism kills, with each passing day we have proof that it is lethal.

Article written by the superintendent of sustainable development of communities at Foundation for Amazon Sustainability, Valcléia Solidade. Originally published in (((o))) eco, on May 29, 2023.