Datafolha: 40% of neighborhoods are not adapted to the climate – 12/17/2023 – Environment

At the same time that almost all (94%) of Brazilians felt that their city has experienced some extreme weather situation in recent weeks, 40% of the population believe that the neighborhood where they live is not prepared for these events.

For a fifth of those interviewed (19%), their neighborhood is very prepared for situations of extreme heat, storms, floods or extreme drought. For 37%, the region where they live is somewhat prepared for these events.

The data comes from a survey carried out by Datafolha released this Sunday (17), which dealt with the observed impacts and Brazilians’ perception of climate change caused by human activities.

The survey was carried out in person, with 2,004 people aged 16 or over in 135 municipalities across Brazil, on December 5th. The margin of error is two percentage points, with a confidence rate of 95%.

Among reported weather events, 89% said their city had experienced extreme heat and 30% said their city had experienced extreme drought in recent weeks.

On the other side of the meteorological spectrum, 50% stated that there was intense rain or storm, and 31% that the municipality faced flooding or flooding.

The year 2023, with temperatures especially high due to the El Niño phenomenon and the climate crisis, was one of extremes across the country. This year alone, Brazil has experienced nine heat waves.

With a warmer atmosphere, the concentration of energy on the planet increases, leading to more intense weather events.

Among them, in the first few months, storms caused landslides on the coast of São Paulo, leaving a trail of deaths and homeless families. Weeks later, it was Acre’s turn to suffer from flooding. The level of the Acre River, which runs through the capital Rio Branco, was the highest in the last eight years.

In the second half of the year, Amazonas suffered from a drought that brought rivers to the lowest levels in history, isolating communities, causing the death of dolphins and causing supply problems. In the Pantanal, drought and high temperatures worsened the damage caused by the fires.

Simultaneously with the lack of water in these regions, Rio Grande do Sul was hit by torrential rains for weeks, leading to flooding in different cities.

When asked about their own housing, the event for which survey participants think their homes are worst prepared is extreme drought. The best level of preparedness for homes, according to those interviewed, is for floods or flooding.

The survey also shows that 85% of Brazilians report having a fan at home, and 24% have air conditioning. On the other hand, more than half of the population (53%) is in a neighborhood with few green areas, and almost a third (29%) lives in a house made with materials that heat the rooms more. Furthermore, 26% of Brazilian homes lack proper air circulation

The survey also indicates that, in 20% of homes, there is someone who needs care, such as the elderly or chronically ill, and, in 12%, the house is inhabited by many people and they share rooms. Furthermore, 15% live with a lack of water and 11% with power cuts at home.