Jamil Chad Indigenous peoples and environmentalists report Bolsonaro to UN 11/16/2022 04h00

Indigenous peoples and environmentalists filed complaints this Wednesday with five United Nations special rapporteurs to the government of Jair Bolsonaro for environmental destruction and human rights violations. The action coincides with a speech by elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the UN Climate Conference in Egypt, which will signal a change in the country’s foreign policy.

The initiative comes from the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), Conectas Institute for Human Rights, Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA), Climate Observatory and WWF-Brasil. According to them, “The uncontrolled increase in deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado in conjunction with a scenario of violence against indigenous peoples and traditional communities is intensifying climate change, threatening biodiversity and endangering access to food, health and water in and around Brazil.” few other countries”.

The document, specially obtained by the corner, was handed over to the UN special rapporteurs responsible for monitoring issues related to the environment, indigenous rights, climate change, food, drinking water and sanitation, development, shelter, as well as the work coordinator. human rights and trade group.

In the group’s assessment, the fact that the complaint was submitted to different UN mechanisms reveals the scope of the complaint; It covers the effects of deforestation on the rights of indigenous peoples and other local residents, and the wider population in Brazil and the Americas Latin America. people in America and around the world.

“The main argument of the complaint is that, in order to guarantee people’s right to a healthy environment, the destruction of natural ecosystems, especially in the Amazon, must be stopped immediately and the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional communities must be respected.” they said. .

The document also asks the government to stop environmental destruction in Brazil, respect the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional communities, and incorporate “the greatest ambition possible” into commitments to reduce emissions.

“This will require implementing an Action Plan to prevent deforestation, continuing the work of the environmental agency (IBAMA), re-enabling the Amazon Fund, restoring the budget, as well as disapproving of any bills that encourage or facilitate deforestation. Continuing the implementation of management policies”, recommend groups.

Indigenous peoples and environmentalists hope that UN rapporteurs will pressure the government to take action in this direction.

According to the complaint, Amazon is getting closer and closer to the point of “no return”, a situation where humankind can no longer free itself from the aggressions it causes.

Natural vegetation loss of 20% to 25% has been calculated by scientists, this is the point at which the Amazon rainforest loses its ability to retain its original composition and becomes a more degraded and less resilient ecosystem. Deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon are close to 20%. In addition to the loss of biodiversity, this change affects the ecosystem services of the forest, such as flying rivers, which play an important role in precipitation patterns throughout Brazil. If this point is reached, carbon emissions will make the 1.5-degree climate target of the Paris Agreement unattainable.

“Large lands have already been deforested, and deforestation rates under Bolsonaro are the highest in over 15 years.” “These attacks on the forest and the people who live in it pose real risks to the lives of the population of South America and the world in general. The Amazon is fundamental to global nature as 10% of the world’s species are found here. as well as responsible for the precipitation regime in South America.”

Rafael Giovanelli, WWF-Brazil Public Policy expert, stated that “the future of the planet depends on protecting our forests.” “The destruction of the Amazon and Cerrado affects access to food and water in South America, causing respiratory diseases and increasing global temperature,” he said.

“Thus ending deforestation is a human rights issue. Reconstruction of socio-environmental public policies purged in Bolsonaro’s government and rejection of bills promoting deforestation are essential for the protection of life. In recent years, the Federal Constitution and international human rights treaties have been largely ignored and This is unacceptable.”

Indigenous lawyer and legal coordinator of the APIB, Eloy Terena, emphasizes that defending Indigenous lands is defending the planet. “If an indigenous land is occupied, deforested, any indigenous people are threatened or the target of violence, it will affect the entire planet. Bolsonaro’s government has violated the Federal Constitution and international human rights treaties,” he said.

“Brazil today is a key player in the climate emergency mitigation equation,” said Julia Neiva, coordinator of the Advocacy of Social and Environmental Rights program at Conectas.

“But as indigenous people, quilombola, and riparian populations suffer the immediate consequences of deforestation, it is necessary to understand that protecting its environment, particularly the Amazon biome, includes respect for human rights and the fight against climate racism and deforestation,” he says.