🗳️ Green Lighthouse
2 days before the 2022 Elections, the Curto News spoke with André Lima – Senior Consultant for Policy and Socio-Environmental Law and Coordinator of the Farol Verde Panel. Farol Verde is a project, created by the Democracy and Sustainability Institute, which aims to provide voters with updated information on how parliamentarians running for election position themselves in relation to climate and the environment.
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Initiative objectives
“Provide transparency in these elections and show which candidacies have a greater level of commitment to the sustainability agenda, whether they are candidates for reelection to the Chamber or the Senate, through the Environmental Convergence Index, or candidates who do not have mandates in this legislature (non-reelection ), and who responded to the survey containing 12 questions relating to the topic. We have 147 new candidates (non-reelection) and 483 candidates for reelection. There are more than 600 candidates and there you can monitor the level of convergence and commitment that each of these candidates have with the Environment and Climate agendas. In the case of re-election, through the Environmental Convergence Index, which ranges from 0 to 100%, and in the case of candidates without a mandate through the responses in the survey”.
Who can participate
“We took all the candidates for re-election (House and Senate) and opened a public call, sent invitations to all parties, from all states in Brazil, we campaigned in the media and on social networks. As of today, September 29th, we have closed membership to the Lighthouse. For candidates for reelection to the Chamber and Senate, it was the votes that these parliamentarians had throughout this legislature (09 to 2019) and the creation of the Environmental Convergence Index, which is the percentage of convergence of candidates for reelection in relation to the coordinator of the Environmentalist Parliamentary Front. In other words, what percentage of the votes of these parliamentarians was convergent with the coordinators of this front. The closer to 2022%, the greener, more environmentalist the candidate is, the closer to 100, the less environmentalist he is. In the case of the 0 who joined the Panel voluntarily (non-reelection candidates), the criteria used were 147 questions on topics such as climate, water protection, game release, pesticides, protection of the Cerrado, the Atlantic Forest, the Amazon, Sustainable tax reform, among other related topics”.
Society's response
“Overall, we are evaluating it as very well received. We have more than 3 million views on our campaign on social media, more than 100 thousand hits on our website, including more than 10 thousand are organic hits and on average, we have more than 1 minute of frequency on the website. What is a good average is who is looking for a candidate in their state and, therefore, the indicators we have are quite positive. We still have a bigger goal, we have 2 more days of pre-voting, and we want to impact at least 200 voters throughout Brazil, reaching around 5 million people viewing the portal and 200 accesses to the website for candidate research” .
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🌱 Search for sustainable products grows 32% in Brazil
The consumption of products with a positive impact on the environment has been growing exponentially in Brazil. That's what one says research carried out by e-commerce Mercado Livre, between April 2021 and March 2022.
According to the survey, products with a positive impact “are those that encourage sustainable lifestyles, habits and behaviors and that have a positive environmental and/or social impact. Products whose consumption promotes the reduction of environmental impacts and/or the generation of socio-environmental benefits, such as reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills, greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and/or generating income for NGOs, between others".
The research shows that the number of buyers of items that encourage sustainable lifestyles, habits and behaviors and that have environmental and social benefits grew 32%.
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In Latin America, food and beverages with a positive impact was the third best-selling category, up 235%
The composition and quality of products are factors that lead to greater value at the time of acquisition.
According to the survey, 12% prefer products with packaging made from recyclable materials e 10% made with organic or agroecological components. The same study identified that nine out of 10 users agree that the “environmental situation is very worrying”.
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🏭 Leaks from Nord Stream 1 and 2 are equivalent to 40% of Sweden's annual emissions
Authorities from European countries are investigating at least four leaks in the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines – which constitute the largest source of gas imports in Europe and which were not in operation at the time of the rupture. There is suspicion of sabotage, but countries have been cautious in pointing out causes and culprits.
There is currently an intense discussion in Europe about the general insecurity of gas infrastructure and the climate impact of an accidental or intentional leak.
The spill occurs in Swedish and Danish waters. According to Christophe Duwig, professor of chemical engineering at the Royal Swedish Institute of Technology, leaks could be equivalent to around 40% of Swedish annual emissions.
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One of the preliminary assessment (PBS) from Danish authorities is in line with the estimate of a dizzying increase in emissions, stating that the event could be equivalent to a third of what Denmark emits every year.
Leaks of this magnitude could release around 0,3 mt of methane, according to estimates from the Danish thinktank CONCITO. This corresponds to between 18 months to 4 years of CO2 emissions from Danish passenger cars, or the emissions of 2,5 to 6,5 million fossil gas boilers in one year.
"While we're still not sure of the cause, the Nord Stream disaster reminds us how risky fossil fuel infrastructure is“, said Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Director of the Jacques Delors Energy Center, Senior Research Fellow, European Energy Policy.
"It is becoming increasingly obvious that we must stop investing in fossil fuels and their infrastructure“, said David Kihlberg, head of the climate department at the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation. “Renewable energy is both safer and more sustainable".
Speaking only from a climate perspective, Kihlberg said the incident is a disaster.
"There are a number of uncertainties, but if these pipelines collapse, the impact on the climate would be disastrous and could even be unprecedented.“, said atmospheric chemist David McCabe, who is a senior scientist with the Clean Air Task Force.
👟 The Amazon is fashion: Osklen launches sneakers with raw materials from the forest
The brand's new line aims to strengthen the forest's bioeconomy and was created in partnership with Instituto-E.
New tennis models AG | Amazon Guardians They are produced with jute from the Amazon, a natural and organic raw material from the region, which does not require the use of pesticides or fertilizers. Cool huh?
During the process of developing fiber into fabric, organic additives and vegetable oils are used that do not generate pollutants.
The new line represents the brand's desire and ongoing efforts to strengthen the Amazon bioeconomy, preserve socio-biodiversity and the culture of the region's native peoples.
O Curto Verde is a daily summary of what you need to know about the environment, sustainability and other topics linked to our survival and that of the planet.
(To Estadão Conteúdo and AFP)
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