REDESCA calls for urgent action in response to the environmental crisis in South America caused by wildfires

September 17, 2024

Washington, D.C. - The Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural, and Environmental Rights (REDESCA) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expresses its deep concern and solidarity considering the serious environmental emergency caused by the wildfires that are severely affecting the region.

The persistent proliferation of wildfires, driven by extreme drought conditions, intense winds, and environmental degradation such as deforestation and desertification, is a clear manifestation of the combined effects of climate change and land-use transformation. These fires not only ravage vast areas of biodiversity but also have a severe impact on the human rights of the most vulnerable communities, including Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, tribal groups, and campesino communities, whose ESCER, survival, culture, and connection to their lands rely on increasingly fragile ecosystems. REDESCA underscores the urgent need to address the structural causes of this crisis and calls for strengthened preventive measures, improved State responses, and enhanced cooperation in the face of the growing frequency and intensity of these disasters.

According to estimates made by the Rapporteurship, these wildfires over the past two weeks have affected approximately 7,300,000 hectares in the South American region, an area equivalent to almost 80% of the territory of Portugal. The most severe situations are reported in Bolivia and Brazil. In the former, numerous active wildfires have been identified in recent weeks across various regions, particularly in the departments of Beni, Pando and Santa Cruz. These fires have affected over 3.8 million hectares, including both forests and grasslands. In response to the environmental crisis, the government has declared a national state of emergency and issued a health alert due to the environmental contamination caused by the wildfires.

In Brazil, the Amazon, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal biomes have been the most affected by wildfires in recent weeks. According to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, during the first week of September, 1,291,225 hectares were burned in the Amazon, 46,025 hectares in the Pantanal, and 1,805,300 hectares in the Cerrado. According to the same source, from January 1 to September 8, 2024, wildfires have devastated a total of 18,758,025 hectares across those three biomes of Brazil. To put this in perspective, this area is comparable to twice the size of Hungary.

These fires, driven by extreme weather conditions, deforestation, and the expansion of agricultural frontiers, are causing severe material damage, endangering biodiversity, and affecting the communities that depend on these territories for their survival. In addition to displacing countless people and causing tragic loss of human lives, the fires are also having serious health impacts. Furthermore, they are destroying vital carbon sinks, contributing to global warming and accelerating climate change

REDESCA reminds that, in accordance with Resolution 3/2021, States must urgently adopt preventive and adaptive measures in response to the growing threat of phenomena such as wildfires, which are exacerbated by climate change. It is essential to have resilience and adaptation plans that promote sustainable land management, in close collaboration with local communities. Additionally, awareness campaigns on wildfire prevention and the necessary actions to mitigate them are required. States that have not yet reviewed their contingency plans must do so in the short term, considering the current risks in the context of the climate emergency. Initiatives should include the approval or updating of forest conservation laws, the imposition of deforestation bans, and the implementation of active policies against illegal deforestation. Furthermore, it is essential to monitor air quality, especially in areas prone to wildfires, to mitigate their effects on public health and the environment.

Given the severity of the situation, REDESCA calls for intensified efforts in prevention, mitigation, and adaptation to forest fires, within the framework of international cooperation. It is crucial to secure the necessary funding to address the losses and damages caused by these disasters, with a perspective of climate justice and in accordance with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Furthermore, REDESCA urges greater regional coordination and cooperation to address the transboundary effects of emissions generated by wildfires. This includes the development of collaborative frameworks that promote the exchange of capacities and financing between countries, with the aim of formalizing joint actions in the prevention, control, and management of emissions, including long-range transboundary air pollution.

The Special Rapporteurship on Economic, Social, Cultural and Environmental Rights is an office created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) with the objective of strengthening the promotion and protection of economic, social, cultural, and environmental rights in the Americas, leading the Commission's efforts in this matter.

No. RD218/24

11:48 AM