Drought prompts Brazilian government to recommend cutting air conditioning and hot showers | Climate and environment

The lack of rain in southern Brazil is worsening the worst drought in its history and has forced Jair Bolsonaro’s government to recommend concrete measures to moderate consumption. The announcement by Mining and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerque was televised on all channels on Tuesday just before the evening newscast, giving an idea of ​​the seriousness of the matter. He promised that the Administration, which is gigantic, will reduce consumption by 20% and asked his 210 million compatriots to take specific actions: “Take advantage of natural light, and preferably leave hot showers, air conditioning and heating. iron “.

Brazil declared itself under a water emergency in May, but the rainy season in the south was less abundant than expected. And the crisis should last a few months until the change of season. Solemnly, Minister Albuquerque said, “I return today to inform you that our hydroelectric conditions have deteriorated. The issue is politically sensitive for Bolsonaro, who is reluctant to impose restrictions because he does not want the drought and its consequences to hamper his plans for re-election next year.

The epicenter of the crisis is in the south and southeast of this continental country, but its effects are being felt in other regions. The concern is regional. Argentina declared a six-month water emergency at the end of July. The Paraná River, which is the second largest in South America, originates in Brazil, crosses Paraguay and empties into Argentina, with the lowest flow in the past seven decades.

In a didactic tone, the Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy explained the extent of the problem: the lack of rains has so reduced the reserves of hydroelectric plants that they suffer from a deficit equivalent to “the consumption of” a city the size of Rio de Janeiro. Janeiro for five months. Rio, with its more than seven million inhabitants, is the second most populous municipality.

The crisis is already having serious economic repercussions in Brazil, whose GDP fell 0.1% in the second quarter. With hydropower plants being the South American giant’s main source of energy, it has had to use thermoelectric plants and import electricity from neighboring countries, raising costs and triggering the bill.

The Bolsonaro government frames the current water crisis in natural phenomena and points out that other countries are suffering from similar problems, trying to decouple the serious situation of global warming or the climate emergency. In any case, Minister Albuquerque acknowledged that the solution is not only in the hands of consumers: “In addition to our efforts, we need rain.

On the horizon, worrying data for the global environment is looming. Brazil – the world’s main water reserve – has seen 15% of the land covered with fresh water dry up over the past three decades. They have fallen from 19 million hectares to 16 million, according to a recent report from the MapBiomas project based on the comparison of satellite images.

Climate change, deforestation, the construction of hydroelectric power stations and the huge amounts of water needed for agro-industry – the mainstay of exports – are the main causes of the drying up of rivers, streams, wetlands, etc.

Since Bolsonaro came to power, he has made it clear that environmental issues and their effects are completely secondary to him. According to him, sustainability slows down economic development. But powerful agricultural producers are already feeling the effects of the lack of rain, and international pressure on Brazil to stop deforestation in the Amazon is constant.

The government this week announced the hiring of 700 new environmental inspectors, which in practice would practically double the means to monitor a territory larger than the European Union and increase the budget to fight against environmental crimes . In the absence of materialization, this would mean a certain change compared to the policy implemented by the Bolsonaro government, which weakened the institutions dedicated to the protection of the environment and put aside any policy of support for indigenous peoples, who play a crucial role in preservation. .environment and biodiversity. In addition, he criminalized environmental NGOs. Deforestation and fires have accelerated.

The Energy Minister added during his television appearance that families who save electricity will benefit from discounts on the account, which the day before increased by 7%. And he urged “heavy consumers”, referring to companies that consume the most, to also make an effort to save energy, but without detailing the percentages and specifying that the reduction is voluntary.

In recent months, the retired soldier has witnessed a sustained decline in his popularity and that is why he does not want to hear about the imposition of restrictions on citizenship, although this Wednesday his vice-president, General Hamilton Mourão , mentioned the possibility. Either way, the relationship between the two is strained.

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