Post
The long and winding road to combat climate changes in Sao Paulo
Published 19th October 2009 - 8 comments
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In October 14th, Sao Paulo Comittee for Climate Changes was empowered. The biggest goal of this comittee is estimulate and fiscalize actions to promote several reductions on Greenhouse Gases in Sao Paulo. The city wants to cut 30% of its emissions before 2012. Sao Paulo State goals are less ambitious: a reduction of 20% on CO2 emissions until 2020 is the target marked in Climate Change State Policies (PEMC, on portuguese acronym).
The benchmark will be 2005, says Fabio Feldmann, Secretary of Climate Changes State Forum. The choosing of this parameter has no pleasant explanation. Sao Paulo – and even Brazil – does not have an inventory of its emissions for years before 2005. The parameter used in the rest of the world is 1990´s emissions .
But, the largest obstacle is the governmental sector, surprisingly: “Government is not engaged in this fight yet”, says Feldmann. Another issue is the need to establish regulatory marks in this area. Brazil will need, also, to prepare human resources to deal with climate changes topics in all areas: from journalists to scientists.
Feldmann points some of the strategies planned to fight against climate changes in São Paulo
- more investments in public transportation
- buildings and house with more energetic efficiency
- fight against food waste
- make sequestration of GHG emitted in garbage deposits
- improve transportation logistics
And why these measures, that seems so simple, could be effective? Only the GHG sequestration in Sao Paulo landfills will reduce the emissions in 20% - ironically, the goal for most countries in Copenhagen. Some studies report that 40% of Sao Paulo emissions are provenient from transportation. The subway expansion can help to curb CO2 concentration in the brazilian largest city.
To improve discussion, three alarming data about Sao Paulo: 30% of food production is wasted in the distribution. Only 40% of energetic consuption in the state came from renewable sources. And 60% of trucks circulate with an empty load in Sao Paulo metropolitan area, as you can check in another post.
Everyday, Sao Paulo accounts 150 km of traffic jam. In one year, the distance is suficient to round the Earth (40, 000 km). For comparison, the city has only 70 km of subway lines. Transportation is the biggest problem for the fourth major city in the world (12 million inhabitants.
Entrevista Fabio Feldmann from Charles Nisz on Vimeo.
Finally, the lack of ambition on Brazil proposal to COP15 can be a difficulty. “We must imagine world as it will be in 2030”, says Feldmann. This perspective would improve Brazil goal in emission cuts. And a Brazilian strong position could make pressure on India, China and USA, states the secretary. (a brief of the video interview).
Comments
“Lack of ambition on Brazilian proposal.” This is exactly where Brazil could make a difference, toward a kind of world leadership in environmental matters. But with the oil reserves discoveries and facing an election year in 2010, it looks like the green ambitions got second in the priorities list. Unfortunately.
This is my feeling too. Mainly when India assumes a strong position today, comitted to make strong cut in its CO2 emissions.
Best
Charlie
Brazil’s lack of ambition in environmental matters is really a problem. Lots of things could and should be done, for example regarding forests and biodiversity. Some examples are presented at
http://matasnativas.wordpress.com/
I agree with you Monika. We must find a way to preserve the native forests and also have social development. Ignacy Sachs thinks about small local productive arrangements.
Best regards
Charlie
Today Brazil is the only country which can make change the things. It very badly left!
See that:
http://climatechange.thinkaboutit.eu/think2/post/the_iea_torpedoes_copenhagen
The goverment need to tackle the enviroment problems (emissions, waste etc. ) the same way they tackle crime, human injustices etc. The only way to turn this enviromental crisis around is to pressure for legislations that regulates, for example, car usage, instead of busses on the ramps in sao paulo, implement trains (like in dubai). Just like smoking was an problem in restuarants and public areas, car emissions is a big problem in the centres of Sao Paulo. You can not smoke anymore in public places. Why? Because short and sweet…smoke is bad for you! THe same goes for emissions. Its bad for you, and its bad for mother earth.
So, my tips are:
-Regulate car usage in the centres
(or)
-Implement a law that only allows electric driven transportation in the centres. (there is allready electric driven busses in use on the ramps for example) Only allow these in the centres.
-Implement a regulation concerning littering. A high fine should be used(like in parts of the USA)
-Implement energy saving systems with health benefits in public and corporate buildings.
-Use solar power
-implement a clear and strong recycling law
-install recycling bins around the city for recycling (with pictures resembling what to throw where)
This is just a few steps that can be taken to get a far more better enviroment in Sao Paulo (and other cities).
But: Strong and clear legislations have to be passed and implemented!
Great blogg by the way!
Best regards,
Linus
It’s such a good feeling to build something out of nothing and let it take on a life of its own. You are literally making your dreams reality.
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