Minister of the Environment said that vulnerable municipalities could have “continued action” against climate change
The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silvasaid this Sunday (March 26, 2023) that the government is internally debating the issue of a decree to recognize a state of climate emergency in 1,038 municipalities mapped as most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
“There is a suggestion that the government is debating to declare a state of permanent climate emergency in municipalities that are proven to be vulnerable, so that there is continued action”, said the minister when visiting areas affected by flooding in Manaus. In the capital of Amazonas, heavy rains caused 172 families to lose their homes.
In an interview with journalists, Marina stated that science already allows predicting that extreme events, whether drought or heavy rain, should continue and that, in some cases, even the removal of populations from risk areas should be planned and executed.
According to the minister, this would be the purpose of declaring the permanent emergency: to allow preventive works, such as soil studies, drainage and social assistance work, to be advanced.
“In addition to the emergency situation, there are prevention projects, these are medium and long-term projects”he said. “We are living under the effect of climate change that is getting worse every day”completed.
When commenting on the criticisms about the lack of transparency in public spending that an emergency situation entails, by circumventing the Bidding Lawthe minister suggested the creation of a permanent structure, with committees, monitoring teams and academics, to supervise the application of public resources.
Marina stated that the population also needs to be clear about the actions needed to mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases and keep the planet’s temperature stable. “It’s an adaptation”he said.
The statements were given alongside the Minister of Integration and Regional Development, Waldez Goesand the mayor of Manaus, David Almeida (Avante-AM). The measure of decreeing a state of climate emergency had already been advanced by Marina Silva earlier, in Rio Branco (AC).
Acre
This Sunday morning (March 26), both ministers also visited Rio Branco, where more than 32,000 people, in 48 districts of the Acre capital, were affected by heavy rains and sudden floods in the Acre River and its 7 main streams.
According to the state government, around 1,050 people are homeless, with nowhere to go and being welcomed into shelters. Another 2,180 were displaced, that is, they had to leave their homes, but they have nowhere else to go.
National Civil Defense technicians accompany the ministerial teams. According to Waldez Góes, civil servants will act not only in actions to assist those in need, but also in the necessary bureaucratic clearance so that the federal government can send resources to city halls.
“They will help municipal managers to fill out the forms for recognizing an emergency situation or a state of public calamity. And also to carry out work plans for requesting federal funds for humanitarian assistance, restoring public roads, bridges and even rebuilding the homes of people affected by the disaster”, said the minister.
With information from Brazil Agency
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