The “Map of vulnerability of the population in municipalities of the State of Rio de Janeiro in the face of climate changes” is a study performed by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) through the Sérgio Arouca Public Health School (“Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sérgio Arouca (Ensp/Fiocruz)” and the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), with the support of Fiotec. The Project is an instrument to alert the 92 cities of the State of Rio de Janeiro, so that they can take preventive actions with regard to public health risks inherent in environmental disasters.
Through the map it was possible to prove that the municipality of Rio de Janeiro is the most susceptible to the impacts of climate change for the next 30 years Project coordinator, Martha Barata, in an interview with the Empresa Brasil de Comunicação, stated that the increase in the greenhouse effect, sea level, more intense rains, the number of cases of diseases and, consequently the number of deaths, are the factors most intensely affecting the city.
Martha explained that the vulnerability is not necessarily a negative thing; it merely indicates the need for attention and requires public policies to prevent damages and diseases and adapt the city to the climate changes. “The first action should be land occupation, not let people occupy hillsides, next ensure sanitations, which would avoid several diseases. Drainage is also important when it rains and there needs to be an early warning system, as has been done in some places”, she added.
General Vulnerability Index
One of the indices utilized in the study was the General Vulnerability Index, measured by three indicators: health, environment and social. Magé and Campos dos Goytacazes are right after Rio de Janeiro, with averages over 0.50, which is the statewide average for the three indicators. “Angra, Paraty, Petrópolis and Teresópolis in turn are cities with high levels of environmental vulnerability due to the biodiversity and lush vegetation which must be maintained and the disorganized occupation of the land”, Martha Barata concluded.
*With information from the Empresa Brasileira de Comunicação
