Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRASILIA591
2007-04-04 19:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:  

BRAZIL'S MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT PRESENTS CLIMATE CHANGE

Tags:  SENV TNGD KSCA EAGR BR 
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RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHBR #0591 0941946
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041946Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8573
INFO RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 4153
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 9555
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 6467
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
UNCLAS BRASILIA 000591 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/EGC TTALLEY AND GTHOMPSON
STATE FOR OES/IPC LSPERLING; WHA/BSC WPOPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TNGD KSCA EAGR BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL'S MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT PRESENTS CLIMATE CHANGE
STUDY RESULTS


UNCLAS BRASILIA 000591

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES/EGC TTALLEY AND GTHOMPSON
STATE FOR OES/IPC LSPERLING; WHA/BSC WPOPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TNGD KSCA EAGR BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL'S MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT PRESENTS CLIMATE CHANGE
STUDY RESULTS



1. Brazil's Minister of Environment, Marina Silva, presented on
February 27, 2007, the expected consequences of the impacts of
global warming on the biodiversity of Brazil for the next 100 years
(from 2010 to 2100). The results came from a total of eight studies
that were requested by the Ministry in 2004. The studies, which will
be used as references for future policy making, should not be taken
as a prediction of the future, the Minister cautioned, but instead
as a warning of the consequences that global warming could have on
Brazil.

2. The studies concluded that due to climate change, mainly a rise
in temperatures, the sea level would increase 4 millimeters a year
along the Brazilian coastline where 25% of the country's population
(42 million inhabitants) is concentrated. Some islands of the
southeast region would be partially or completely covered by water.
The rise in sea level would affect wetlands and other vegetations
along the coastline of Brazil. Various fish species would also
become extinct.


3. Because of the variations in temperature, tropical forest trees
might decrease their CO2 absorption capacity due to their
sensitivity to temperature changes. If temperatures rose over three
degree Celsius, coral reefs, which are very sensitive to changes in
water temperature, would be threatened.

4. Climate change could also bring enormous risks to the country's
health sector. Changes in temperature would increase the risks of
diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever and encephalitis,
which all reproduce faster in hotter temperatures. Respiratory
diseases would also become more common due to increased forest fires
and the lack of rain. The high temperatures could increase death
rates among children and elderly inhabitants.


5. The two most alarming results of the studies, however, relate to
the Pantanal and the Amazon rainforest. The study predicts that the
Pantanal, which now has seasonal flooding, might experience constant
flood periods, which would totally disrupt the life cycle processes
of the ecosystems of the region and result in the extinction of many
of the fauna and flora. By 2050, portions of the Amazon forest could
be experiencing shorter rainy seasons the report concludes, and when
combined with the effect of the expected higher temperatures, could
produce desert or arid areas.

CHICOLA