For its partnership and contribution to IRI Brazil, Cemaden was recognized for its efforts to raise awareness about the crisis of tropical forest deforestation in Brazil and its associated impacts on disasters triggered by hydrometeorological extremes, directed at more than 100 religious leaders. Representing various institutions and active in all Brazilian regions, four groups of religious leaders visited Cemaden in 2022, when they received scientific information on climate and disasters, among other things related to the Center's activities.
Director Osvaldo Moraes, of the National Center for Monitoring and Alerting Natural Disasters (CEMADEN) - a research unit of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) - was thanked by Charles Ian McNeill, senior coordinator for Forests and Climate at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for the Center's collaboration with IRI Brazil (Interfaith Rainforest Initiative in Brazil) in efforts to raise awareness of the tropical forest deforestation crisis in Brazil.
MacNeill pointed out that Cemaden's partnership with IRI Brazil had made it possible to raise awareness among more than 100 religious leaders about natural disasters, climate change, the deforestation crisis and the urgent need to protect the Amazon. He recalled that currently only five countries in the world contain approximately 70% of the world's remaining tropical forests: Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and Peru.
The senior coordinator of the United Nations Environment Program said that this recognition of Cemaden's contribution and support is being disseminated to all the global partners of the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative.
Four groups of religious leaders visit Cemaden
Between May and August 2022, four groups of religious leaders from IRI Brazil (representing states from all regions of Brazil) visited Cemaden to learn about climate change, risks and the prevention of natural disasters.
One of the strategic objectives of the visit was to provide the leaders with relevant technical knowledge and information on climate change; on disasters, their causes, consequences, impacts in the different regions of Brazil and the interactions between CEMADEN and civil defenses. The visitors also learned about the actions/activities/programs aimed at reducing vulnerabilities, protecting and preventing risks and disasters, so that they can feel more prepared and encouraged to act in the public debate and raise awareness in the communities where they work.
The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI Brazil) is a platform to support religious leaders so that they can increase their contribution to preserving climate balance, conserving and sustainably using forests, and protecting indigenous peoples and local communities.
The initiative includes representatives from the National Confederation of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB); the Israeli Confederation of Brazil (CONIB); the National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC); Religions for Peace Brazil; Religions for Peace Latin America and the Caribbean; the Institute for the Study of Religion (ISER); the Israeli Confederation of Brazil; the Brazilian Evangelical Christian Alliance; the Brazilian Spiritist Federation; Sustainable Perifa; Mosque Brazil; and the National Islamic Union.
The last technical visit at the Cemaden, held by IRI Brazil's delegation, took place in August 2022. As in all the programs held with other groups of visiting religious leaders, the managers and researchers gave talks about Cemaden's mission, the monitoring and warning system, climate change, climate-related disasters and the Cemaden Education Program. They also visited the Center's Situation Room, where they learned about monitoring processes, vulnerabilities, risk areas, the observational network and more.
Source: Ascom/Cemaden
