The Fight for Green Solutions in Brazil’s Favelas
In Brazil’s favelas, sustainability is often born out of scarcity. Gilson Rodrigues, president of the G10 Favelas, explains how these communities tackle climate challenges head-on despite lacking resources. EFE reports on their struggle and resilience.
A Result of Necessity, Not Choice
Sustainability isn’t a trend or a political statement in Brazil’s favelas—it’s necessary. These communities, which lack essential resources like water and sanitation, have been forced to adopt sustainable practices to survive. Gilson Rodrigues, president of the G10 Favelas, a coalition of leaders and entrepreneurs working to improve Brazil’s most vulnerable communities, says, “In the favelas, we are sustainable by imposition because we end up living on the basics. We save water because we don’t have it.”
Rodrigues, often called the “Ambassador of the Favelas,” has tirelessly advocated for creating opportunities within Brazil’s poorest neighborhoods. He grew up in Paraisópolis, one of São Paulo’s largest and oldest favelas, home to over 100,000 people. In these communities, residents face economic inequality, which experts call “climate inequality.” Favelas like Paraisópolis, with their high-density housing and lack of green spaces, can experience temperatures up to 10 degrees higher than wealthier, neighboring areas, according to a study by São Paulo’s Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie.
This climate disparity is just one example of how the favelas are experiencing the effects of the climate crisis faster than wealthier communities. “Favelas are already going through what people say the world will experience in 30 years. Water shortages, extreme heat, and lack of sanitation are already here,” Rodrigues told EFE. For the residents of these communities, the climate crisis is not a future threat—it’s an everyday reality.
The Ambassador of the Favelas Speaks Out
Rodrigues will be one of over 20 speakers at the second Latin American Green Economy Forum, organized by Agencia EFE and set to take place in São Paulo on October 1st and 2nd. The event will bring together public and private sector leaders, experts, and advocates to discuss how Latin America can tackle climate change and promote sustainable development.
For Rodrigues, the forum offers an opportunity to shed light on the environmental struggles of the favelas and propose solutions. He argues that sustainability in these areas cannot continue to be accidental or imposed by scarcity—it needs to be part of a comprehensive strategy to improve living conditions and ensure a more equitable future. “Sustainability shouldn’t just happen by chance. There needs to be a plan to bring visibility to these issues and educate residents on tools to improve the situation,” Rodrigues emphasized.
Rodrigues’s life has been shaped by his upbringing in Paraisópolis, where he witnessed firsthand the hardships and resilience of favela residents. He understands that the residents of these communities are often seen as part of the problem rather than part of the solution regarding sustainability. “We are only seen as the cause of the problem when, in fact, we are part of the solution,” Rodrigues said. He hopes to shift this narrative at the forum and advocate for a more inclusive approach to sustainability that empowers the favelas.
Climate Inequality and Its Impact on Brazil’s Poorest Communities
Brazil, the largest economy in South America, is home to over 10,000 favelas, where an estimated 16 million people live—about 8% of the country’s population, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). These communities face economic and social challenges and are also on the front lines of the climate crisis.
Paraisópolis, where Rodrigues grew up, provides a clear example of climate inequality. The favela’s lack of vegetation and green spaces, coupled with its densely packed homes, leads to what is known as the “urban heat island” effect, where temperatures can be significantly higher than in neighboring areas. Poor infrastructure and substandard building materials compound this, trapping heat and making life unbearable during the hottest months.
“Favelas are already experiencing the climate crisis firsthand,” Rodrigues pointed out. “The lack of water, extreme heat, and inadequate sanitation are problems we’ve been living with for years.” These issues disproportionately affect Brazil’s poorest communities, who often have the fewest resources to adapt to changing conditions.
While the residents of wealthier areas may be able to install air conditioning or access clean water, those in the favelas are left to fend for themselves. The unequal distribution of resources exacerbates the impact of the climate crisis on Brazil’s most vulnerable populations, creating a stark divide between the haves and the have-nots.
Empowering Favelas to Create a Sustainable Future
Rodrigues believes that favelas must be seen as victims of climate change and as critical players in the fight against it. He advocates empowering these communities with the necessary tools and knowledge to create a sustainable future. “A sustainable favela is one where people have the conditions to grow, develop, and access this culture of sustainability,” Rodrigues explained.
However, he acknowledges that this is easier said than done. “Residents are so worried about food and jobs that thinking about sustainability often seems like a distant concern,” he said. To change this, Rodrigues argues that the government, private sector, and NGOs must work together to provide the necessary resources and education to help favelas adapt to their challenges.
One of the primary goals of the Latin American Green Economy Forum is to explore ways to build resilience in vulnerable populations like those living in Brazil’s favelas. The forum, supported by organizations such as ApexBrasil and Norte Energía, aims to create partnerships between the public and private sectors to address the climate crisis. For Rodrigues, this is a crucial step toward finding real solutions for the favelas. “I hope we can create a new perspective on the favela population and help create tools or regulations so that the favela can save itself,” he said.
Rodrigues believes that the solutions to the challenges faced by favelas must come from within the community. Residents can take control of their future by building local leadership and fostering a sense of ownership over sustainability initiatives. He hopes the forum will lead to concrete actions that can be implemented in favelas across Brazil, creating a blueprint for sustainable urban development in low-income areas.
For Gilson Rodrigues and the residents of Brazil’s favelas, sustainability is not a choice—it’s a necessity driven by scarcity. As EFE reports, the challenges these communities face, from water shortages to extreme heat, directly result from the climate crisis, which they have been experiencing long before it became a global issue. Through initiatives like the G10 Favelas and events like the Latin American Green Economy Forum, there is hope that these communities can be empowered to take control of their future and play a key role in creating a more sustainable world.
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Rodrigues’s message is clear: favelas should not be seen as part of the problem but as part of the solution. By providing the necessary tools, education, and support, Brazil’s most vulnerable communities can lead the fight against climate change and show the world that sustainability is possible—even in the face of adversity.
