The Climate Conference (COP 27) ended a few weeks ago, on November 18, and the Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) began in the first week of December. The extemporaneous World Cup, in Qatar, has been taking place simultaneously with these world events.
The UN conferences, the COPs, which have taken place since the mega event Eco-92, in Brazil, seek solutions to minimize critical problems that threaten the continuity of our existence on Earth. Basically, these problems cut across all areas of our lives – climate change and depletion of biodiversity. Despite its grandiose purpose, emphasizing in other words – to save humanity –, people’s general and broad interest in the COPs does not even come close to that dedicated to the World Cup.
It is somewhat understandable that no one would rather talk about disgrace, instead of cheering and celebrating a thrilling goal by Richarlison with friends, in green and yellow. But, there’s no choice. We do need to think about climate change. Likewise, it is inescapable to think about the variety of life forms we are losing, considering both have a decisive impact on our health and well-being.
Nowhere else in the world should people be more conscious about these issues than in the Amazon. First reason is justified by the fact that forests in this immense tropical area correspond to the largest reservoir of carbon, a compound which is properly stored in the trees and soil, instead of released into the atmosphere by deforestation and fires, thus, preventing and mitigating climate change. Second, the ecosystems here are the most biodiverse on the planet, encompassing a variety of species of trees, palm trees, insects and other animals, microorganisms and fungi belonging to a wide universe. Biodiversity is important for the resilience of the forest itself and holds characteristics and compounds that, if well-known and properly used, are capable of transforming the region's development and raising life quality of its human populations.
We lost the World Soccer Cup. A dramatic defeat for the Croatia national soccer team. Certainly, an impactful outcome, as soccer is part of our collective identity. But we also lose every year with the depletion of forests that are in the color of our flag. Between 2021 and 2022, more than 11,500 km2 of forests were cut down in the Amazon, not to mention fires, illegal logging and mining. Lives of people who defend the forests are also lost for violence and greed.
What explains such apathy in face of these tragedies? They constitute a true defeat for all of us who inhabit the region and everywhere on the planet. We should be following the unfolding of each COP with greater anxiety than a World Cup final and we are not, as a nation, and actually no other nation seems to be. The concrete results of the negotiations between countries have been meager so far. At COP 27, the most celebrated result was the creation of a loss and gain fund, by which the most vulnerable countries will be supported to deal with climate extremes. At COP 15, it is expected, for example, to define forms of financing to protect global biodiversity and a plan developed to expand protected areas on the planet. Previous plans have been little effective in curbing the loss of ecosystems and species. The advances are inexpressive and far from the root of the problems. Countries continue to fail in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mainly from fossil fuels and, in the case of Brazil, even more so from deforestation and environmental degradation. We're in the game extra-time, It’s better to avoid the agony of penalties.
