WWF UK- Brazil – Water for life

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Brazil – Water for life

Brazil – Water and Climate Initiative

Brazil is home to some 14% of the world’s fresh water, the vast majority of which flows down the Amazon river. It is also home to the planet’s largest continental wetland (the Pantanal) and flooded forests (the Amazon).

The country is almost unrivalled in terms of freshwater biodiversity – the Amazon alone is estimated to be home to 3,000 species of fish, which is more than four times as many as are found in any other river in the world, and more than 55 times as many as are found in all of Britain’s rivers and lakes.

Threats

Despite Brazil’s apparent abundance of fresh water, these supplies are not evenly distributed across the country or throughout the year. Overuse and pollution threaten Brazil’s freshwater resources, particularly in the heavily-populated coastal regions, and 40 million people lack access to clean drinking water. Drought, flood and water-borne diseases are also a risk, with 70% of Brazilian hospital admissions being for diseases related to water.

Even in areas where water is relatively abundant, such as the Amazon, the rapid pace of Brazil’s development is beginning to threaten both people and nature. If not planned correctly, the vast proposed hydropower expansion in the Amazon region could displace hundreds of thousands of people, degrade indigenous cultures, and fragment freshwater ecosystems beyond repair.

Studies also show significant impacts from climate change in several regions of Brazil. Given the close relationship between fresh water and climate change, it is imperative to reduce the impacts of global warming on water resources and to help ensure that river basins are resilient to climate change.

Solutions

As part of the HSBC Climate Partnership, WWF is working to build the resilience of aquatic ecosystems to climate change, and mitigating the impacts of climate change by reducing CO₂ emissions.

The programme is conducting three demonstration projects: the Upper Paraguay River in the Pantanal); the transboundary Madre de Dios, Acre and Pando basins in the Amazon; and the São João River in the Atlantic Forests. The programme will also propose and advocate better public policies that properly consider climate change issues.

In addition, we are working closely with sanitation companies to improve water management practices and increase access to water and sanitation services, in line with the UN Millennium Goals.

As almost 70% of Brazil’s CO₂ emissions come from deforestation, this programme also aims to control illegal logging while creating sustainable forestry business opportunities and financial incentives for keeping forests alive.

And we are working on promoting energy efficiency and the role of renewable energy technologies in Brazil. This is important for reducing emissions, generating jobs and reducing the need for large hydropower dams, as well as for building awareness and engaging civil society.