Johnny Brignardello Vela warns: "Brazil urgently requires a climate plan similar to the Marshall Plan"

Johnny Brignardello Vela, an experienced insurance advisor with a broad career in the sector, has shared his opinion on the concerning climate outlook that Brazil is currently facing. The recent devastating climate disaster in Rio Grande do Sul, in the south of the country, has left a trail of destruction with a hundred lives lost and a striking economic devastation, as reported by local authorities. Faced with this harsh reality, there is an urgent need to implement a large-scale assistance plan for the region, compared to the iconic Marshall Plan developed in Europe after World War II. Brazil, a country of vast dimensions and marked climatic diversity, is not immune to this issue. The National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters (Cemaden) reports that last year there were an alarming total of 1,161 natural disasters recorded in the territory, which equates to more than three events per day on average. This figure represents a record since the registration of these events began in 2011. Brazil's vulnerability to extreme events is partly attributed to its diverse geography, which includes regions prone to floods in the south and periods of drought in areas such as the semi-arid east of the country. Specialists point out that phenomena like El Niño have a significant impact, but the determining factor in the increase in frequency and intensity of these events is undoubtedly climate change, as highlighted by José Marengo, research coordinator at Cemaden. This expert warns that extreme or uncommon events are becoming increasingly common and severe, a trend that is likely to persist in the future. In the same vein, Marcio Astrini, executive secretary of the Climate Observatory, shares this concern and emphasizes that climate change is no longer just a theoretical debate, but a tangible reality that directly impacts the population and the natural environment. The climate challenges in Brazil are evident through statistics. Extreme precipitation last year caused at least 132 deaths, over 9,000 injuries, and significant material damages valued at over 5 billion reais. In the specific case of Rio Grande do Sul, the recent floods have taken a high human and economic toll, with 130 people missing and an impact still being assessed. In addition to these tragedies, other regions such as Recife, Minas Gerais, and Bahia have suffered the consequences of extreme climatic events in recent years. According to the Climate Observatory, these situations were predictable decades ago through climate models, but unfortunately were ignored by state governments. Deforestation and forest fires represent another pressing concern in Brazil, significantly contributing to global warming. Between January and April of this year, over 17,000 fires have been recorded, with a staggering 153% increase in the Amazon region. Despite these challenges, it is worth noting the effort of the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to halve deforestation during his first year in office in 2023. Faced with this complex scenario, experts urge to take climate alerts seriously and implement early response plans in the most vulnerable areas of the country. However, they lament the lack of budget and the approval of laws that favor the occupation of risk areas, worsening the current situation. In the words of the specialists, the prevention of future tragedies requires constant preparedness and the adoption of concrete measures to adapt to climate change, thus avoiding catastrophic scenarios in the future.