Justiça Climática, Racismo Ambiental e Cidades Resilientes - Legislação Participativa - 30/06/2026

Opening of the Public Hearing on Climate Justice

Introduction to the Session

• The public hearing is officially opened by a member of the Commission for Participatory Legislation, focusing on climate justice, environmental racism, and resilient cities. This session follows the approval of regulation 27/2026 authored by Deputy Talíria Petrone.

• Acknowledgment of attendees including committee members, guests, and online viewers via the Commission's webpage and YouTube channel.

Participation Guidelines

• Participants can engage in interactive debates through the Commission's page, submitting questions that will be addressed at the end of the event. Members wishing to question speakers must register via an app called Info.

• Each guest speaker will have 10 minutes for their presentation; emphasis is placed on listening more than speaking during this public forum. The audience is encouraged to express their views actively.

First Panel Discussion: Environmental Racism

Introduction of Speakers

• Maira Rodriguez from Instituto Peregum is introduced as a moderator for discussions on environmental racism alongside Sara Marques from Caranguejo Tabaiares Collective and Reníia Filice from anti-racist networks. Mariana Belmonte will participate online.

Maira Rodriguez's Opening Remarks

• Maira emphasizes the significance of discussing environmental racism in light of recent rights violations affecting communities due to climate issues post-COP 30 held in Brazil less than eight months ago. She highlights ongoing challenges faced by urban communities regarding climate justice and resilience.

• The discussion aims to address intersectional issues related to race, gender, and location—specifically how these factors influence vulnerability in so-called "sacrifice zones." These areas are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards based on racial and socio-economic lines.

Sara Marques' Testimony

Personal Experience with Climate Injustice

• Sara shares her background as a popular educator from Caranguejo Tabaiares, highlighting her community’s transformation into a risk area due to urban development that disregards local needs and safety concerns amidst climate change impacts like flooding. She expresses fear over inadequate communication about risks posed by extreme weather events.

Community Struggles

• She describes how her community has been marginalized through urban planning that prioritizes profit over people’s safety—new developments overshadowing traditional neighborhoods while residents receive alarming messages instructing them to evacuate without clear alternatives or support systems in place.

Systemic Issues Highlighted by Sara

Critique of Government Response

• Sara criticizes governmental responses that exploit climatic emergencies for political gain rather than addressing root causes or providing timely aid; she notes delays in emergency funds following disasters which exacerbate community suffering during repeated crises such as floods leading to health issues like leptospirosis among vulnerable populations.

Mariana Belmonte's Contribution

Collective Action Against Environmental Racism

• Mariana emphasizes collective efforts against environmental racism within policy-making processes; she acknowledges contributions from various organizations working towards equitable solutions while stressing that individual actions alone cannot drive systemic change needed for effective climate justice initiatives across different territories in Brazil.(1082]

Renice Felice's Insights

Educational Initiatives

• Renice discusses her role at UnB and introduces an international project aimed at fostering anti-racist networks across Portuguese-speaking countries while emphasizing collaboration between academia and grassroots movements focused on equality within environmental policies.(1873]

Discussing Climate Justice, Environmental Racism, and Resilient Cities

Importance of the Meeting

• The speaker introduces their role as the national coordinator of Brazilian research networks and emphasizes the significance of discussing projects related to climate justice, environmental racism, and resilient cities.

• Highlights that the Brazilian Association of Black Researchers has been engaged in these discussions for over 20 years, advocating for representation in academic spaces.

Project Selection Process

• The partnership with MIR was crucial for project selection; 77 projects were submitted from various regions across Brazil.

• Emphasizes the importance of an intersectoral and intersectional approach in selecting projects.

Key Projects Overview

Inova Saúde Project

• Coordinated by Professor Nadile from UFPA, this project mapped communities in Northern Brazil to assess healthcare access via telehealth.

• Identified significant gaps in infrastructure and communication regarding health policies reaching remote communities.

Rede Afrop Project

• Focused on skin cancer among Black individuals, led by Unicamp's Professor Carmen. It revealed how climate change exacerbates health issues within marginalized populations.

• Demonstrated that late diagnoses are common due to systemic neglect towards skin conditions affecting people of color.

Education and Spatial Justice

Quilombola Education Initiative

• Discusses a project addressing educational disparities faced by quilombola communities in Southeast Brazil.

• Highlights unequal distribution of public services leading to environmental violence against Black communities.

Geopolitical Vulnerability

• Research shows that quilombola territories often extend beyond recognized boundaries, complicating governance and resource allocation.

Legal Framework and Urban Resilience

Legal Support for Communities

• The legal practices initiative from UFBA aimed at defending Black communities against real estate speculation in Salvador.

• Stresses the need for cultural resilience against urban whitening processes through legal advocacy.

Intersectionality in Climate Discussions

Addressing Systemic Inequalities

• Calls attention to how racial, gender, and class inequalities intersect with environmental issues impacting policy-making.

Future Directions

Strengthening Partnerships

• Advocates for increased investment in addressing environmental racism within public budgeting processes.

Upcoming Events

• Announces a major conference at UnB focused on showcasing research contributions from Black scholars across various fields.

Final Thoughts on Community Engagement

Importance of Local Voices

• Emphasizes that solutions must originate from local experiences and knowledge systems rather than top-down approaches.

This structured summary captures key insights while providing timestamps for easy reference back to specific parts of the discussion.

Water Crisis and Climate Adaptation in Brazil

Overview of the Water Crisis

• The UN issued a warning about a "water bankruptcy," indicating that we have reached a point of no return regarding water resources. The accumulated damage is so severe that restoration is no longer feasible.

• Brazil, despite having 12% of the world's freshwater, faces significant disparities in water distribution, particularly where urban populations are concentrated.

Impact on Agriculture and Communities

• Projections indicate a 40% reduction in surface water bodies such as lakes and reservoirs, exacerbating the crisis felt locally across Brazil. This leads to higher food prices and environmental damages affecting agribusinesses.

• Vulnerable groups including rural communities, traditional populations, and residents of favelas face disproportionate impacts from water scarcity, which affects health, food security, income levels, and education.

Consequences of Poor Sanitation

• Lack of adaptation measures amplifies issues related to droughts and prolonged dry periods; reduced river flows lead to increased pollution concentration impacting human health and hygiene.

• Flooding contaminates water sources like wells, further contributing to water insecurity while rising temperatures exacerbate infrastructure damage and promote harmful algal blooms in aquatic environments.

Resilient Water Sanitation (WASH) Concept

• The concept of resilient WASH aims for universal access while emphasizing proactive planning based on data projections to make informed decisions addressing new demands effectively. It includes actions for alert systems and recovery strategies.

• Investment priorities should focus on high-risk populations lacking secure sanitation or those with inadequate but existing systems to ensure equitable resource allocation amidst climate change challenges.

Current State of Sanitation in Brazil

• Approximately 30 million people lack access to clean drinking water while 90 million do not have sewage services; however, many face precarious conditions even when networks exist due to systemic inequalities in access quality.

• Data indicates that around 10 million people experience critical inadequacies in potable water access while 50 million face similar issues with sanitation facilities across Brazil's vast landscape.

Challenges Ahead

• Universal sanitation goals aim for 90% coverage by 2033; however, there remains concern over the remaining population without adequate services—often located in areas where costs are higher or solutions are less conventional.

• Addressing these challenges requires integrating climate adaptation into legal frameworks governing sanitation policies to prevent perpetuating social inequalities through infrastructural investments that fail vulnerable communities.

Importance of Community Involvement

• Local knowledge is crucial for developing effective climate adaptation strategies; community-driven data generation can inform public policy by highlighting specific needs within historically marginalized groups affected by climate change impacts like flooding or drought [].

Inequities Exposed by Climate Change

• Climate crises disproportionately affect marginalized communities; decisions about who lives in high-risk areas or has access to essential services reflect political choices rather than natural occurrences alone [].

Data Collection Initiatives

• Projects like "Retrato das Enchentes" involve local organizations gathering data directly from affected families—highlighting how extreme weather events intersect with historical inequalities faced by these communities [].

Mental Health Impacts

• Over half of surveyed families reported mental health issues following floods due to loss of property or ongoing anxiety about future disasters—underscoring the need for comprehensive support beyond physical infrastructure improvements [].

Communication Gaps During Crises

• Many individuals report never receiving prior warnings about impending floods or guidance on protective measures during such events—a critical gap hindering effective disaster response efforts [].

Call for Legislative Action

• Advocacy emphasizes the necessity for legislative bodies to prioritize funding towards community-led adaptation initiatives rather than top-down approaches that may overlook localized needs amid broader climate strategies [].

This structured summary encapsulates key discussions surrounding the intersectionality between climate change impacts on vulnerable populations within Brazil's context while advocating for inclusive policy-making processes aimed at fostering resilience against future environmental challenges.

Discussing Environmental Policies and Community Involvement

Importance of Diverse Approaches in Public Policy

• Tainá emphasizes the need to accept multiple approaches within public policies, highlighting the importance of incorporating data produced by communities.

Legislative Challenges and Environmental Concerns

• The speaker notes the unfavorable power dynamics in Congress regarding environmental collapse and climate change, mentioning recent rollbacks of positive legislation, including aspects of the Forest Code.

• President Lula's vetoes against attempts to undermine environmental protections were overturned, indicating a need for a more supportive Congress that includes public interests.

Personal Struggles in Political Engagement

• The speaker expresses frustration about needing to be present in multiple places at once during legislative sessions, illustrating the challenges faced by politicians in fulfilling their duties effectively.

Addressing Racial Inequality and Urban Resilience

Intersection of Racism and Urban Issues

• Ícaro Santana discusses how racism affects access to health, mobility, and urban spaces for marginalized communities, stressing that discussions on urban issues must include these perspectives.

Key Questions for Discussion

• He raises two critical questions:

• How can public investments prioritize areas most vulnerable to climate risks?

• What strategies can accelerate projects promoting circular economy practices like recycling?

Technical Assistance for Waste Management

Presentation by Tatiana Bastos

• Tatiana introduces an independent technical assistance tool aimed at improving waste management policies while emphasizing its potential impact on budget allocations for waste-related initiatives.

Role of IDC (Instituto de Direito Coletivo)

• She explains that IDC works nationally with various entities focusing on democracy, environment, and inclusion while addressing waste management through evidence-based studies.

Advocacy from Catadores (Recyclers)

Introduction by Roney Alves da Silva

• Roney represents ANCAT (National Association of Recyclers), highlighting their 25-year struggle for social inclusion and productive rights within recycling sectors amidst corporate threats to local recycling efforts.

Environmental Racism Observations

• He points out systemic environmental racism where poorer neighborhoods bear the brunt of waste disposal issues while wealthier areas remain unaffected by such problems. This disparity is evident in Brasília's socio-economic landscape.

Climate Justice Perspectives from Kimberly Silva

Insights on Climate Governance

• Kimberly discusses her work with Palmaresl focused on climate justice across Brazil’s northern regions while critiquing how development often neglects marginalized populations' needs during infrastructure planning processes.

Local Impacts of Development Projects

• She raises concerns about new data centers being established without considering local community needs or infrastructure capabilities, emphasizing a lack of consultation with affected populations like those living on islands near Belém.

This structured summary captures key discussions from the transcript related to environmental policy-making, racial inequality in urban settings, advocacy efforts from recyclers, and insights into climate justice initiatives—all anchored with relevant timestamps for easy reference.

Importance of Dialogue in Climate Adaptation Strategies

Role of Organizations in Climate Planning

• Tainago Tierres emphasizes the significance of dialogue with various organizations for constructing climate adaptation plans, highlighting the integration of climate justice as a guiding principle.

• The federal government is implementing the "Adapta Cidades" initiative to support states and municipalities in developing local strategies, viewing adaptation as a shared responsibility across multiple levels.

Local Participation and Goals

• Over 500 municipalities are involved in creating local adaptation strategies, with a goal to reach at least 2000 municipalities by 2035. Support from legislative bodies is crucial for achieving these targets.

Community Perspectives on Climate Issues

Voices from Gijoca de Jericoacoara

• Rita Martins shares insights on community engagement with climate issues, stressing the need for projects that address local demands and highlight the importance of governmental attention to environmental concerns.

Mobility and Accessibility Challenges

• Rute Costa discusses how systemic racism affects mobility rights, limiting access to essential services and opportunities for marginalized communities. She calls for more equitable transportation solutions.

Reflections on COP30 Outcomes

Disappointment Post-COP30

• Rute expresses concern over perceived setbacks following COP30 in Belém, noting that promised improvements have not materialized and have instead worsened conditions for vulnerable populations.

Funding and Resource Allocation Insights

Budgetary Concerns in Anti-Racism Projects

• Flávia requests clarification on budget allocations related to anti-racist initiatives, questioning whether funding was adequate for project development and outcomes.

Importance of Listening in Governance

• Emphasis is placed on the necessity for legislators to engage actively with community voices rather than solely focusing on oratory skills during public discussions.

Addressing Environmental Racism

Advocacy Against Environmental Injustice

• Renata Sembai highlights ongoing efforts against environmental racism, urging better communication between policymakers and affected communities regarding fossil fuel impacts.

Final Thoughts from Participants

Call for Collaboration

• Participants express gratitude for the opportunity to discuss pressing issues while emphasizing collaboration between universities, social movements, and governmental entities as vital for effective change.

Need for Political Will

• Acknowledgment that political will is necessary to drive impactful changes within communities facing environmental challenges.

The Role of Youth Engagement

Engaging Younger Generations

• Discussion about utilizing visual communication methods like stickers to engage youth around important causes such as urban forestry preservation amidst real estate pressures.

Conclusion: Collective Responsibility

• The overarching message stresses collective action among all societal sectors—governmental bodies, NGOs, and citizens—to address ecological crises effectively.