G-20: When will Brazil finally do its own homework?

By Sergio Viula

G-20: When will Brazil finally do its own homework?

Guanabara Bay – one of those areas that never feature on a postcard.

Brazil is currently hosting the G-20 summit. Leaders from around the world have gathered in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro to discuss an agenda that addresses both social and environmental issues. However, the summit's host still has a lot of homework to do.

With the importance of this issue in mind, take this opportunity to practice your English while engaging with some crucial data.

SEWAGE

In Brazil, approximately 24.3% of the population (about 49 million people) live in homes without access to adequate sewage systems. This means these households rely on precarious solutions such as rudimentary pits or direct discharge into rivers and ditches. Sewage collection is more common in urban areas and regions like the Southeast, where coverage reaches 86.2%, compared to only 22.8% in the North​.

The city of Rio de Janeiro discharges approximately 18,000 liters of untreated sewage per second into Guanabara Bay. Despite efforts to reduce pollution, such as the Águas do Rio decontamination project and the strengthening of public policies, current sewage treatment capacity remains inadequate. For example, the Alegria Sewage Treatment Plant, even at full capacity, could only treat about one-third of the daily sewage volume dumped into the bay​.


DEFORESTATION

Each year, approximately 14,700 hectares (or 147 km²) of the Atlantic Forest are deforested, based on the latest monitoring data. This deforestation is primarily driven by activities like agricultural expansion and unregulated urban growth, often involving illegal burning to clear areas. While much of the Atlantic Forest is located along Brazil's coastline, the impact is widespread across various states within the biome, such as Minas Gerais, Bahia, and Rio de Janeiro​.


FRESH WATER

Brazil has experienced a 15% reduction in its surface water over 30 years, particularly impacting rivers and lakes. This trend has accelerated due to land use changes, such as converting forests into pastures and constructing reservoirs​.


PESTICIDES

Brazil is one of the world's largest consumers of pesticides, showing a significant increase in their usage over recent decades. In 2021, approximately 720,000 tons of pesticides were used, marking a 392% rise since 2003. This consumption is primarily driven by the production of commodities such as soybeans, corn, and sugarcane, which account for 76% of the total pesticides used in the country.

The bottom line is: When will they walk the talk?