In the municipality of Soure, in the archipelago of Marajó (PA), Mayor Paulo Victor Silva recalls that, “formerly”, the population knew the evolution of tides and climate according to the month. “We knew that in March, the tide was higher and we prepared for this month. But now it happens in September, December, January, ”says the mayor. Climate change has never been so evident, he adds.
He was one of the more than 3,300 mayors who were at a National Meeting of Managers from all over the country in Brasilia, and who say it is necessary support for municipalities to face this routine of instability. “We have a people who depends on the environment, people who work on the beaches.”
The problem of climate change and impact on municipalities was one of the main topics discussed at the event this week. “I want to understand what I can do in these disasters that are already happening there for us. The sea is beating the house of people. Many houses are falling, ”said Silva.
Capacitation
Before the beginning of the meeting, the minister Alexandre Padilha, From the Secretariat of Institutional Relations (SRI) of the Presidency of the Republic, he had already indicated that one of his goals was to teach the mayors to mobilize in the face of this scenario. The meeting featured a dynamic simulation platform called “Mayor” in order to generate simulations. “A city that is facing a flood should know how to set up the room, how to trigger the Civil Defense resources and how to organize the team,” said the minister.
According to SRI Assistant Executive Secretary Juliana Carneiro, the idea of the dynamics of “Mayor” involved concern about responsibilities, considering that the federal government has the resources to help, but managers need to understand the role of each federative entity. “Sometimes the mayor does not know that it is necessary to enter the Civil Defense system and what must fill that that public reality is declared.”
Conscience
Therefore, at the meeting, the mayors participated in workshops and lectures on how the reaction of municipal management and how to resort to funds for these situations can be. According to the president of the Brazilian Association of Municipalities, Ary Vanazzi, this is an important debate that needs to occur in the municipal spheres.
“Some believe that the climate crisis is a problem of the federal government or international governments. The climate problem is born in the municipality. And each manager needs to be aware of it, ”he said. The entity’s representative considered that resources are needed to invest in policies to help the global pact of municipalities.
“No matter the size of the city”
At the meeting, managers understood that it is necessary to act quickly. This is the case of the mayor of Santo Antonio do Jacinto, Edemark Pinheiro, who said the big floods occurred with more recurrence and generating damage particularly between October and March, for a population of just over 10,000 inhabitants. Similarly, climate change is part of a routine in cities such as Orindiúva of 7,000 inhabitants.
Mayor Mireli Martins is sure that the small municipality also needs to prepare. “For example, my municipality had no Civil Defense, we created. Then it increases our personnel sheet. The climate issue is worldwide, but the municipality, no matter the size, needs to be prepared for everything, ”he said.
*Collaborated Gésio Passos, from Radio Nacional
