South Florida Journal of Development, Miami, v.1, n.1, 11-20, jan./mar. 2020. ISSN 2675-5459
Mitigating measures carried out by the environment secretariat of the Municipality of Itapira-SP in relation to greenhouse gases
DOI: 10.46932/sfjdv1n1-002
Received in: January 1st, 2020 Accepted in: January 31th, 2020
Anderson Martelli Master in Biomedical Sciences - Hermínio Ometto University Center (Uniararas); Professor at UNIMOGI, Mogi Guaçu-SP Address: 601 Rodrigo Mazzon Avenue, Mogi Guaçu, São Paulo, Brazil E-mail: [email protected]
Sérgio Cachiba Environmental technician and Secretary of Agriculture and Environment of Itapira-SP Address: 77 Benedita Lemes Ramos Street, Itapira, São Paulo, Brazil E-mail: [email protected]
ABSTRACT Nowadays, concern for the environment is present in the lives of a large part of the population. We are experiencing the hottest period since the last glaciation. Thus, this article aimed to describe actions taken by the Secretariat of Agriculture and Environment (SAMA) aiming at reducing and sequestering the gases that cause the greenhouse effect - GHG in the city of Itapira-SP. For this, a data survey was carried out at SAMA in the municipality and other departments, responsible for carrying out the actions. The results showed that the topic is little debated and studied in the municipalities of Brazil and the activities developed in this study characterize plausible actions with regard to raising awareness of public power and civil society regarding the mitigating actions related to these gases, as well as the benefits their execution, serving as a link of participation in the construction of sustainable cities.
Keywords: Greenhouse effect, Global warming, Carbon Hijacking, Itapira-SP.
1 INTRODUCTION As man increases his ability to intervene in the environment by extracting and modifying natural resources for his needs, numerous conflicts occur regarding the use of the environment (MARTELLI et al., 2018). In recent centuries, a model of civilization has imposed itself, bringing industrialization, with its form of production and organization of work, besides agricultural mechanization, channeling of water bodies, intensive use of agrochemicals, occupation of protected areas and growing urbanization, with a process of population concentration in cities (MARTELLI, 2015). Oliveira Jr. and Sousa (2012) portray that water and atmosphere polution, deforestation, incorrect land use, degradation of water resources among others, characterize aggravating environmental problems in the contemporary world and stimulate the awareness of society to take immediate action, giving
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South Florida Journal of Development, Miami, v.1, n.1, 11-20, jan./mar. 2020. ISSN 2675-5459
priority to the conservation of resources essential to the preservation of the planet and quality of life of people, especially those living in large urban centers. As countries intensified their unbridled search for industrialization and economic development, several manifestations of the environmental crisis with degradation of the natural environment due to anthropic actions began to emerge frequently (SILVA, 2015; MARTELLI et al., 2013). With this anthropic intervention in the natural environment and intense industrialization, another problem has been occurring, the release of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (GEE). According to Braga et al. (2001), since the industrial revolution, air pollution has grown and become a serious problem for cities, especially the industrialized ones, adding to the pollution caused by industries, cars and forest fires. These gases have favored changes in the climate affecting everyone directly and indirectly. These changes are consequences of the increase in the concentration of gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), some chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), among others (NUNNENKAMP, CORTE, 2017). According to Martelli et al. (2013), this environmental crisis that the planet is going through, and the consequences to which we are subject, have mobilized various sectors of society such as civil authorities, governmental and non-governmental institutions. This worldwide concern with the environment has motivated several international, regional and local meetings, aiming at the discussion and elaboration of proposals for solutions to the subject. It is notorious that environmental problems influence states and towns to think about public policies or action plans, with a view to re-educate societies in order to stimulate continuous processes that enable alternatives for the conservation, recovery and improvement of this environment (CUNHA, 2018). In this sense, over the last few years, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Itapira- SP (SAMA) has been developing several activities aiming at the reduction of the emission and/or the neutralization of GHG. In this regard, this article aimed to describe the actions carried out by SAMA and other related departments of the municipality in 2019 and 2020 aiming the mitigation of GHG in the city of Itapira-SP, gases that have been favoring the increase of the world temperature and thereby serving as a model for other municipalities in Brazil and the world.
2 MATERIAL e METHODES Characterization of the City of Itapira The Municipality of Itapira is part of the Administrative Region of Campinas and is located in the Southeast region, central-eastern portion of the State of São Paulo, at 22°26'10" latitude S and 46°49'18" longitude W, approximately 63 km distant (via the bypass ring) from the city of Campinas and 159 km from the state capital.
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South Florida Journal of Development, Miami, v.1, n.1, 11-20, jan./mar. 2020. ISSN 2675-5459
It has an area of 518,416 km², with an estimated population of 73,844 inhabitants. The urban perimeter has an area of 58,042 m² with a population density of 132.21 inhabitants per km² (IBGE, 2020).
Survey of GHG reduction and hijacking actions The activities aimed at and reduction and/or kidnapping of GHGs in the municipality of Itapira-SP are carried out by SAMA, in conjunction or not with other municipal departments. In view of this positioning, an exploratory analysis of data in the archives of the respective secretariat was carried out regarding the activities carried out in 2019 and 2020 with respect to GHGs. After survey, the data were recorded in a spreadsheet formulated by the authors, and later the data were tabulated for presentation.
3 RESULTS E DISCUSSION Among the numerous activities developed by SAMA, which will be reported throughout this article, the survey of the municipal diesel-powered fleet was initially portrayed. The dark smoke emitted from the exhaust of diesel vehicles is a sign of engine adjustment problems. The darker the color of the smoke, the higher the consumption of the vehicle and the amount of particulate emitted into the atmosphere. The color of the black smoke indicates that the diesel is not being fully burned and may cause damage to the engine and its components such as pumps, nozzles and turbines, favoring environmental impacts such as increased release of GHG. According to Carvalho (2011), diesel powered vehicles emit more CO2 per unit of volume or weight of fuel than other motorized modes. In this work, the author used an average emission factor of 2.6 kg of CO2 for each liter of diesel burned in combustion, which together with the average value of 0.5 kg of CO2 emitted to produce and distribute the fuel reached a final emission rate of around 3.2 kg of CO2/l of diesel. Therefore, governed by Municipal Law no. 4,519/09, which provides for activities related to air pollution control, SAMA performs two annual monitoring - first and second semesters Figure 1A of the municipal diesel-powered fleet in order to verify the vehicles that due to mechanical problems are releasing smoke with a dark tonality. For this measurement an instrument authorised by the Cetesb State agency called the Ringelmann Scale is used. Vehicles with shades above the permitted level are issued an opinion to remedy the problem and the inspected vehicles receive a seal of inspection with the date and result of the analysis. This action is of fundamental importance with regard to GHG mitigation measures and can be adopted by other municipalities.
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South Florida Journal of Development, Miami, v.1, n.1, 11-20, jan./mar. 2020. ISSN 2675-5459
Figure 1. Assessment of the diesel fleet. In A, SAMA technician performing the survey on a machine; B, Ringelmann scale used in this assessment.
Continuing the activities, it was verified that the city of Itapira encourages alternative transportation, presenting a bicycle path network. Currently, the city has an extension of approximately 5,180m between bicycle path and cycle path, connecting important neighborhoods of the city. With the large fleet of cars on the streets, the data shows that traffic in cities grows every day and with it the emission of tons of CO2 and other gases in the atmosphere and it is not necessary to cite examples from the big capitals, because in peak times the traffic is well compromised in the access roads in the central area of Itapira and the bicycle becomes an alternative and ecologically sustainable transport with advances in the environmental aspect, health and quality of life of the population.
Figure 2: In A, bicycle path on Italos avenue interconnecting important points of the municipality; B, bicycle stand in strategic places favoring the practice of this transportation.
The creation of a bicycle path plan by the municipalities is part of the strategies to change the paradigm in the production of our cities, through the repricing of urban space distribution, giving priority to non-motorised and more affordable transport alternatives.
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When it comes to transportation, the City Hall also provides two minibuses and a kombi to transport its employees from specific points in the city to the workplace. This action benefits 30 employees with a reduction of approximately 20 vehicles in circulation. A car powered by gasoline and correctly regulated releases, on average, 120 grams of CO2 per kilometer driven, so this action reduces the atmospheric emission of 2400g/Km driven per day. Aiming at reducing GHG emissions, the city of Itapira has a Civil Defense corporation engaged in the direct combat of fires, whether forest or urban, with the unconditional support of the Environmental Patrol Figure 3A, B. The city's Civil Defense participates annually in Operation Fire Fighting formed by several state agencies such as the State Civil Protection Coordination (CEPDEC), the Fire Department, the Military Environmental Police, the Environmental Company of the State of São Paulo (CETESB), the Forest Foundation (FF) and the Forest Institute (IF). With the reduction of fires and deforestation a significant reduction of GHGs released into the atmosphere is observed. According to data from the National Institute of Space Research - INPE, between January and June 2020, 37 outbreaks of fire were registered by the satellites of this organization. Figure 3C.
Figure 3: In A, Civil Defense agent fighting a forest fire outbreak; B, fighting by Environmental Patrol agent in another forest fragment; C, map of Itapira municipality provided by INPE with fire records.
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South Florida Journal of Development, Miami, v.1, n.1, 11-20, jan./mar. 2020. ISSN 2675-5459
Currently, Brazil is among the largest emitters of CO2, the main cause of the greenhouse effect, in the world. But the country would be far behind in the ranking if it weren't for deforestation and burning. As a mitigating measure, in addition to fighting forest fires, the Civil Defense, Environmental Patrol and SAMA hold periodic lectures in schools and municipal institutions to raise awareness of the burning and fires in the natural environment and homes. In 2015, Brazil's total emissions were 1.368 billion tons of CO2 and (GWP-AR2). The peak of Brazilian emissions occurred in 2004, when 3.453 billion tons of CO2 were released into the atmosphere, mainly due to high rates of illegal deforestation, but between 2005 and 2017 the drop in the deforestation rate was 65%. This reduction was largely achieved with the implementation of the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon, which significantly altered the Brazilian profile of GHG emissions (EDUCACLIMA, 2018). According to Marcondes et al. (2010), forest conservation by avoiding deforestation and burning ensures that the carbon stock maintained in it continues to be stored, because in the burning, the carbon retained in the tree structures is released in the form of CO2. The same authors portray that the most important biomes are: Atlantic Forest, Amazon Forest and Savannah, with carbon stocks ranging from 150 to 290t of CO2 per hectare conserved and protected. Giving continuity to municipal actions, Itapira disposes of its solid waste correctly in a landfill with collection in 100% of the city, as well as the selective collection that also covers this percentage. This way, a significant part of the waste generated in the municipality is reused through recycling carried out by an association, thus reducing its decomposition and release of GHG into the atmosphere. Educational lectures are held by this association and by SAMA aiming at reducing the waste generated and its correct disposal. The rational use of resources is a concern that increases every day due to the environmental unbalance that we live in today in all senses. New lighting alternatives, arising from the development of new technologies, can contribute to a better use of energy and environmental resources. In this sense we have the efficiency that LED technology (light emitting diode) to the lighting sector. Compared to traditional incandescent lamps, for example, LED lamps consume 90% less energy. In this way, the municipality has employed this type of lighting in its public buildings, reducing energy costs and aiming at greater energy efficiency, high durability with lower rates of waste generation and disposal in the environment; most of its components are passive recycling factors that go in favor of the National Solid Waste Policy; they do not contain heavy metals such as lead and mercury reducing possible environmental contamination. Finally, one of the main actions undertaken by SAMA over the years as GHG mitigation measures, as well as their sequestration, are the constant planting of trees in the municipality and
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South Florida Journal of Development, Miami, v.1, n.1, 11-20, jan./mar. 2020. ISSN 2675-5459
donations of seedlings to interested parties. In 2020 more than 400 native tree seedlings were planted in the urban perimeter through environmental education actions and donated by the Seedling Nursery linked to SAMA more than 600 seedlings to rural owners. In Figure 4 it is possible to observe native tree plantations in the city.
Figure 4: Planting of native trees in the municipality. In A, planting of trees inside a Municipal Daycare with children; B, forest reconstitution of an area located on the banks of the Ribeirão da Penha, water course from where water is collected, treated and distributed
Among the many benefits of tree vegetation, seedlings serve as a GHG mitigation measure. Due to the threats of global warming due to the greenhouse effect and the expected consequences of climate change, a new environmental service is now expected from forests: the role of trees as carbon sinks (SANQUETA, BALBINOT, 2004). According to the Brazilian Climate Change Forum (2002) and Renner (2004), forests are the largest carbon reservoirs - in the carbon cycle, containing about 80% of this atom. The plants, using their photosynthetic capacity, fix the atmospheric CO2, biosynthesizing in the form of carbohydrates, being finally deposited in the cell wall, thus performing the "sequestration" of carbon. A study conducted by Instituto Totum and School of Agriculture Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ) in partnership with SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation (2013), shows that reforestation of the Atlantic Forest has been responsible for removing 1.2 million tons of CO2 equivalent from the atmosphere in the last 11 years, estimating that each tree in this biome absorbs 163.14 kg of CO2 equivalent over its first 20 years. Forest recovery also favores local fauna, which contributes to ecological processes through pollination and seed dispersal. About 50 to 90% of tree species in tropical forests are scattered by animals (KAGEYAMA, et al., 2008). Therefore, the vegetation coverage of a city should be a conjunctural element of sustainable planning, since it brings benefits to society and the environment, being these benefits one of the points of this work. Finally, climate change and the detachment of GHGs remain a serious problem faced by humanity, and this warns of the need to think about environmental policies that can keep these emissions constantly reduced, in this sense, the municipalities of Brazil and the world need to intensify actions in this direction, and think about ways to educate the population about this issue. 17
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4 CONCLUSION The information acquired and relayed allied to a constructive attitude generate actions that can change society's view of the environment around them, forming citizens with a broad view of the world encompassing problems and ways to mitigate them. This complicity between all the spheres present in urban space is the basic condition for achieving a better urban environmental quality and a minimum standard of quality of human life. With these actions developed by SAMA in the city of Itapira-SP, they favor the reduction of emissions and/or sequestration of GHG and benefit the quality of life of residents of large urban centers. It is of fundamental importance to maintain environmental education actions, confronting the environmental reality of your city and improvement measures, thus inducing behavior change in the way the population thinks and acts, reflecting the formation of environmentally conscious and responsible adults.
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