Brazil, South America
Sister Maria de Lourdes de Deus Pimentel, CSC
Congregation Justice Committee Member for Brazil
Climate Update
The impacts of human-caused climate change have already led to loss and damage to people and ecosystems in Brazil. These impacts are most severe among marginalized urban populations, such as those living in slums and in under-resourced areas.
In Brazil, the climate crisis poses risks to: water security; health, due to growing epidemics; coral reef ecosystems, which are degrading daily; food security, due to frequent or extreme droughts; life and infrastructure, due to damage from flooding, landslides, sea level rise, storms and coastal erosion.
In the Amazon, the impacts of climate change and deforestation are extremely severe with irreversible losses of ecosystems and biodiversity.
Science leaves no room for doubt: Climate change endangers the well-being of people and the planet. The next few years are crucial for slowing or reversing current trends.
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Current Initiatives in Brazil
Signing petitions and providing guidance on land rights to those with whom we minister.
Offering adult night school classes to refugees from Africa and Latin America, helping them learn Portuguese, gain legal advice, and adapt to their new culture.
Incorporating sustainable practices into community life, including solar energy, rainwater reclamation and composting. We’ve also made a significant reduction in meat consumption and use popular alternative transportation methods.
Proposed Initiatives for 2022–23
Response to the Cry of the Earth
Plant trees and raise awareness about World Earth Day.
Ensure ministries welcome, promote and integrate migrants, refugees, prisoners, homeless individuals, women in social vulnerability, traditional communities, etc.
Promote scholarships for young people and adolescents from the periphery for an integral education.
Examine the institutional budget through an ecological lens and incorporate ecological economics into ministries when possible.
Incorporate care for our common home into community, novice and ministry formation.
Support projects for implementing solar energy in our ministries and local communities.
Participate in social action networks that respond to the humanitarian call, such as the action group for World Day of the Poor.