Records for deforestation and carbon emissions; see other highlights Curto Verde

🌳 Brazil records worst October in deforestation since 2015

Almost 1.000 square kilometers of Amazon Brazilian population were lost in October, the worst data for this month since records were available in 2015, according to official data released this Friday (11).

The area deforested last month in the largest tropical forest on the planet is 904 km², 3% greater than that of October 2021 – a former record for the month -, according to data from the DETER satellite surveillance system, from the National Research Institute Space (INPE).

The destruction was concentrated in the state of Pará (48,12%), followed by Mato Grosso (16,61%), Amazonas (15,76%) and Rondônia (7,59%). Between January and October 2022, there was a record for the historical series: a total destroyed area of ​​9.494 km², surpassing that recorded in other entire years of the series.

+ Most Read

• Scientists use AI to design plants that combat climate change
• AI and Sustainability: The Future of Companies

💧 1/3 of the Cerrado's water volume could be lost by 2050

If the destruction of Cerrado continue at the current rate, a third of the biome's water volume could be lost by 2050. This is what he concluded a study by the Society, Population and Nature Institute (ISPN), released this Thursday (10), in the Brazil Climate HubAt COP27.

The situation is a cause for local, national and global concern. Even so, water continues to be exported to China, the European Union and the United States in the form of “virtual water”, that is, the water consumed in the production of grains and meat (commodities).

93% of the Cerrado basins are expected to see a reduction in water availability by 2050. 23.653 m³/s should be lost in the rivers analyzed in the study, which is equivalent to the flow of 8 Nile rivers.

Deforestation doubles in the Cerrado and accelerates in areas without land information

Deforestation in the Cerrado more than doubled in August and September this year compared to the same months last year. There were 144 thousand hectares deforested in the period in 2022, an increase of 135% over the 65 thousand hectares deforested in 2021. The increase in activity occurred mainly in areas without land information, which draws the attention of researchers. These areas account for 45% of the deforested area in the two months, compared to 12% in the previous year. Private rural properties account for 48% of the entire area deforested in the biome in the period, compared to 77% last year.

👷 CO2 emissions in the construction sector reach a new record

The global increase in construction has raised carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to an all-time high of 10 gigatons. Thus, the sector is off track to meet the promedecarbonization plans by 2050, according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).

Launched at the latest round of climate negotiations in Egypt, COP27: 2022 Global Building and Construction Status Report (🇬🇧) concludes that the sector was responsible for more than 34% of energy demand and around 37% of CO2 emissions related to energy and processes in 2021.

💰 Agência Pública and WWF-Brasil launch microgrants for reporting on oil exploration and climate change

To investigate the new frontiers of oil exploration, the Public Agency joins the WWF-Brazil and launches the 16th edition of its traditional Microbolsas program.
Reporters from across the country are invited to investigate the relationship between oil exploration and climate changes. The agendas must take into account mainly the new exploration blocks in the Amazon region and their socio-environmental impacts.

The management of the Public Agency will choose, in partnership with WWF-Brazil, four guidelines, considering originality, feasibility, security and the diversity of the proposals. The selected teams will be awarded grants of R$8 to produce the reports and also with mentoring and publication of the reports on the Agência Pública website.

Registration must be made by December 10th via of this form.

To register for Microbolsas, interested reporters must send a professional presentation, with examples of work carried out and the agenda they intend to investigate, with pre-investigation, work plan – journalistic methods that will be used, possible sources, schedule – and plan of budget. Reports must be published within three months after the results are announced. Read here the full regulation.

The results of the Oil and Climate Change Microgrants will be released in the second half of January 2023. 

Read also

CO2 emissions from fossil fuels will be record in 2022, report warns

CO2 emissions from fossil fuels will reach unprecedented levels in 2022, according to the Global Carbon Project report released this Friday (11) at the UN climate conference (COP27). The expected increase is 1% compared to 2021. This is alarming data, according to scientists, and demonstrates that the international community has not honored the promeWe need to reduce CO2 emissions, an essential condition for the planet not to exceed a 1,5ºC increase in average temperature compared to the pre-industrial era.

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.

(🚥): may require registration and/or signature 

(🇬🇧): content in English

(*): content in other languages ​​is translated by Google Tradutor