Extreme climate events and food security – a study case in the highlands of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

<p>Between 1900-2013 there were around 150 disaster records triggered by natural events in Brazil, whose associated impacts were also alarming: 10,052 casualties, 71 million people affected and a loss of about US$ 16 billion. Human-caused induced climate change is intensifying these devastating extremes and will make them even worse in the coming decades, concluded the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2021.</p><p>The increase in these weather-related events is of significant concern to the agriculture sector given the sector’s dependence on climate and can threaten the food security of the people. A closer analysis highlights that within the agriculture sector, the crop sub sector absorbs over 42 % of the total damage and losses caused by disasters, while the livestock subsector sustains nearly 34 % of the total economic impact within agriculture (FAO, 2015).</p><p>In 2011, massive landslides were triggered by extreme rainfall conditions in the highland’s region of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil and Nova Friburgo was the municipality most affected. In this area has been observed an increase in the precipitation variability, translated into more dry days and a concentration of the rainfall and rain intensity. This phenomenon draws attention to agricultural production, since it is an important region for food production, which supplies Rio de Janeiro city, the second biggest city in Brazil.</p><p>As food security measures are one of the most important responses concerning the management of natural disasters, we present an analysis about the impact of natural disasters on food production in Nova Friburgo and propose how to consider this aspect on public policies regarding risk management.</p><p>FAO. Climate change and food security: risks and responses. 122p. 2015.</p>