On this World Environment Day, June 5th, São Sepé has become only the second city in Brazil, and the first in southern Brazil, to recognize the global climate emergency.

Regulated through decree by Mayor João Luiz Vargas (of the PDT party), the city’s declaration establishes the city’s commitment to urgently help limit both global warming and the climate crisis. Climate change is already causing deaths, forced mass migrations, and huge economic losses across the planet.

With the decree passed, raising investments in renewable energy becomes a priority for São Sepé. A solar energy plant is already under construction and the city government identifies potential for investments in the wind sector as well.

The declaration was prepared with support from 350.org, an international environmental campaign organization addressing the climate crisis. It was also supported by the São Sepé Sustainability Group, reinforcing the municipal government’s commitment to diversify employment and income for the roughly 25,000 city inhabitants. The city will begin by targeting sectors such as tourism, logistics, and low-carbon agriculture.

 

São Sepé’s plans run counter to those in other regions of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, where companies in the coal supply chain are trying to expand their activities, in some cases with the encouragement of municipal and state governments. 

In Greater Porto Alegre, mining company Copelmi is trying to open one of the largest open-pit coal mines in the country, Mina Guaíba, despite strong opposition from local communities. In the vicinity of Bagé, a subsidiary of the same company is carrying out plans to create a coal-fired thermoelectric power plant.   

“We are putting forward a new trajectory for the state, in line with the global energy transition movement. It is a matter of awareness and survival, for if we do not start to adapt and seek opportunities in the transition economy, we risk becoming an obsolete and jobless state,” says Mayor João Luiz Vargas.

For 350.org, São Sepé’s initiative is a call to action for other municipal and state governments to promote concrete measures to contribute to the climate and social crises.

“The pandemic and global warming are forcing public officials around the world to implement new solutions. Rather than continuing dependency on sectors destined to end, such as oil, gas and coal, smart governments are encouraging activities that lead to a fair and inclusive recovery, in areas such as renewable energy and quality public services”, says Renan Andrade, campaigns coordinator at 350.org in Rio Grande do Sul.

In Brazil, the city of Recife was the only municipal government to recognize the climate emergency and to include its declaration in the world list of initiatives compiled by the  International Climate Emergency Forum.  Other municipalities have already announced that they are assessing similar measures, but have not yet registered an official declaration in the international database. 

Globally, 1,940 governments across all levels in 34 countries have officially recognized the climate crisis, including authorities in France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Argentina, Canada, and Japan. New York, Chicago, Paris, London, Rome, Milan, Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Tokyo, Sydney and Bogotá are amongst the cities that joined. More than 825 million people live in places where their government has recognized the climate emergency.

We clap hands to this fierce and avant-garde city sending a clear message to the Coal lobby:

OUT OF HERE COAL!
This land already has an owner