Environmental protection in Brazil

While Brazil has taken steps toward stopping the deforestation of the Amazon Rainforest and Atlantic Rainforest, they have done little in terms of stopping pollution of the country's waterways. Some of the most polluted rivers in the world are found in Brazil. The country is also a complete failure in terms of disposing of the millions of tons of garbage, construction rubble, and industrial wastes that are generated each day. While the government's watchdog agency IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis) has laws up the wahzoo regarding environmental issues, there is almost ZERO enforcement ever undertaken.

Basic Sanitation - Even in São Paulo, Brazil and South America's largest city one home in every 6 does not have a bathroom indoors, nor is it connected to the potable water and sewer systems. In almost all Brazilian cities there is little beyond primary sewage treatment and in many cases raw sewage is dumped directly into the waterways. Secondary and tertiary sewage treatment are virtually unheard of in Brazil. As a result every year many of the most popular beaches on Brazil's coastline are closed because of abnormally high fecal coliform counts; remembering that acceptable levels by Brazilian standards are many times higher than in every other developed country on earth. Currently there is global concern about the unacceptable situation of the pollution of Guanabara Bay where many of the aquatic events of the 2016 Olympic Games will take place.

Garbage - Despite a law that was enacted to ban landfills all across the country, that law has never been put into effect.  In many cases garbage is trucked to these sites and just dumped on the ground, often it is not even covered with a layer of earth. Worse still, Brazil accepts importation of garbage from other countries. While there are some industries that deal with recycling of aluminum, scrap metal, paper and cardboard, all of which have commercial value, there is to my knowledge no city in the whole country with selective garbage collection like the blue box system used in many countries. Also unlike in most other countries, Brazilians have the very nasty habit of just throwing their garbage wherever they please. Construction debris, old furniture, and anything that won't go in the regular garbage collection get tossed in the nearest vacant lot or just dumped in the street.

Industrial pollution -  Very little if anything is done about it at all. Even when it is, a little bribe takes care of everything.

Cheers,
James
expat.com Experts Team

US $1.4 in funding from the World Bank was recently spent on urban research in the southern State of Rio Grande do Sul.  The focus combined sustainable environmental planning with initiatives to attract investment for high tech enterprises. Even though the governor and universities have failed to champion the study, its principal researchers from the US have taken up residence in Porto Alegre, and they are generating a lot of buzz around it. Workshops have been very popular and professionals in many fields are seeking out ways and means like these to halt wasteful, polluting practices and institute good stewardship policies.  Many similar groups like these had already sprung up in the area, outside of academia and without state funding, and there is a clearly a growing hunger to address these problems.

I can't believe how everyone has an electrically heated shower and no solar water heater...

Meet the plumbers.

electrically heated shower R$50,
solar water heater..............R$1500 and more
I believe that's why

To be fair, solar water heaters do exist here.  People tend to live in the same place for long periods of time, and absentee owners tend to do a decent job of keeping their rental apartments in order with management companies.  The long-term benefit of solar water heaters is clear to anyone. 

However.  Aside from the upfront cost pointed out above, there is the unfortunate fact that Brazil excels in producing junk products, and installation and maintenance are not much to brag about either.  Together with the intense sun beating down and aging all the parts and connections, I can´t blame Brazilians for not trusting that such an investment will necessarily pay off before the parts break down. or are abused by another worker -- all of whom lack formal training.

Just adding fodder to the fracas.  For it seems it will all change now.

Brazil Now Likely to Eliminate Environmental Protection Laws | News | teleSUR English

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/B … -0012.html
it gets crazier as the day goes on, is it me or the weather.  Enjoy if you have time

From the favelas: the rise of rooftop solar projects in Brazil | Guardian Sustainable Business | The Guardian

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable- … cts-brazil

Save the Tree's and the Rainforest, can they,will they?
Brazil Indigenous Group Fights Mega-Dam with Symbolic Protest | News | teleSUR English
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/A … -0008.html
Enjoy if one has time

I know the perfect thing for carbon capture
you don't need to invent it,
its a Tree, so no "noble prize" for me

Let's see how this works out?
How Brazil protects the Amazon's forests | Letter from the Ambassador of Brazil to the UK | World news | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/ … on-forests
just food for thought.

Proposed Amazon dam would fuel land speculation, deforestation, study says | Reuters
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazi … SKCN0ZE2OG
will the forest survive, its like the lesser of 2 evils. Alternate energy,solar,wind,natural gas.

Well its a start, wondering how long before someone will find another loop hole.

Brazil: Police Dismantle Country's Largest Illegal Logging Ring | News | teleSUR English
http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/B … -0017.html

Looks like mother nature is starting to take hold.
Amazon could face intense wildfire season this year, Nasa warns | Environment | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment … nasa-warns
That's all is needed for deforestation.