Rio De Janeiro Brazil

Latin American Green City Index | Rio de Janeiro_Brazil Rio’s electricity comes from renewable sources, commercial areas around its port. The US$200 primarily hydropower. The city consumes 678 million project involves refurbishing historical megajoules of electricity per US$1,000 of GDP, buildings, improving transport access and sani- _Brazil which is below the Index average of 761 mega- tation services, and creating cycling lanes and Rio de Janeiro joules. green spaces, including a green corridor lined by 11,000 trees. Around 30,000 people currently Green initiatives: In 2009 the city unveiled its live in the run-down port area, and the city esti- comprehensive climate change programme, “Rio mates that the neighbourhood will be home to Sustainable”. The plan foresees an 8% reduction more than 100,000 residents when the project — from 2005 levels — in the emission of CO2 and is finished in 2016. Additionally, Rio’s climate other greenhouse gases in the city by 2012, a change action plan calls for the reforestation of 16% reduction by 2016 and a 20% reduction by protected areas. To achieve this, the city is 2020. As part of the programme, the city con- investing US$15 million to plant 1,500 hectares ducted a full review of CO2 emissions in collabora- of trees through 2012. tion with the federal university of Rio de Janeiro. The plan outlines a number of ways the city will Transport: Rio de Janeiro ranks average in meet its reduction targets, including the mitiga- the transport category. Rio’s public transport tion of emissions from transport and waste, the system consists of both buses and a metro, and installation of energy-efficient LED lights in is the longest in the Index, measuring an esti- municipal buildings and street lights, and public mated 8.7 km per square kilometre of city terri- awareness initiatives, among other programmes. tory — considerably longer than the 17-city average of 5 km per square kilometre. Its superi- Land use and buildings: Rio ranks above or transport networks (defined in the Index as average in the land use and buildings category. transport that moves large numbers of passen- The city scores particularly well thanks to its very gers quickly in dedicated lanes, such as a metro, ambitious land use and eco-buildings policies, bus rapid transit or trams) measure 0.12 km per which are among the best in the Index. More- square kilometre of city territory, just slightly over, the city, which has two of the world’s longer than the Index average of 0.10 km. Rio’s largest urban forests, the Pedra Branca Natural metro runs along two lines, extending a total of Park and the Tijuca Forest, boasts 58 square 47 km, which leaves large portions of the city metres of green space per person. Although the served only by buses. The city’s third metro line latest available data for Rio dates back to 2001, is currently under construction, scheduled for while the data for other cities is more current, completion by 2016 (see “green initiatives” this is relatively high by Index standards. The city below). Rio’s climate change action plan delin- strives to maintain its green spaces, and boasts a eates goals for expansion of mass transport ser- strict set of laws aimed at protecting these areas vices, and further plans are laid out by the state from development. transportation secretariat. According to official sources the city has 0.26 vehicles per inhabitant, Green initiatives: Ahead of the 2016 Olympic which is just less than the Index average of 0.30 Games, Rio is redeveloping the residential and vehicles. This is the lowest ratio among the ith 12.3 million residents, Rio de Janeiro is er of Rio de Janeiro. Together with the wider American Green City Index. The city’s best place- per capita between US$8,000 and US$16,000). Wthe second most populous metropolitan metropolitan region, Rio generates just over 5% ment is in the area of environmental gover- It is one of three mid-income cities that ranks area in Brazil. Just over half of its residents live of Brazil’s GDP; it is the second largest economy nance, where, with Mexico City, it ranks well above average overall, and has the second low- within the Rio city limits, about 6.4 million, mak- in the country, behind São Paulo. The city’s com- above average. Its impressive performance in est stock of cars and motorcycles among the Performance Rio de Janeiro Other cities ing it the sixth most populous city in the Latin mercial activities are largely dominated by this category is thanks to a robust record on same peer group. well below average above well American Green City Index. All of the figures tourism and services. Brazil’s oil industry is environmental monitoring and environmental below average average above included in the Index are based on the city prop- based in Rio, as are the country’s biggest mining management. Rio also performs well in the Energy and CO2: Rio de Janeiro ranks average average company and one of the most important televi- energy and CO2, and land use and buildings cat- above average in energy and CO2. The city’s per- Energy and CO2 sion networks. Recently the city has received a egories, emerging above average. The city formance in this category is largely due to its great influx of investments ahead of a series of boasts a strong clean energy policy and strictly clean energy policies and its clear goals for the Land Use and Buildings high-profile events, including the UN Confer- regulates environmental standards for the con- reduction of CO2 emissions outlined in the city’s Transport ence on Sustainable Development in 2012, the struction of new buildings. Rio de Janeiro climate change action plan (see “green initia- Waste World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympic receives average ranks in the areas of transport, tives” below). In 1988 Rio became the first city in Water Background indicators Games. Rio is therefore in a unique position in waste, sanitation and air quality. Its overall score Latin America to publish an inventory of CO2 the Index to greatly improve its urban develop- is constrained, however, by a below average emissions. The city emits an estimated 73 kg of Sanitation Total population (million) 6.2 ment and environmental performance over the placement in the water category, which is due CO2 per person from electricity usage, below the 2 Air Quality Administrative area (km ) 1,182.0 coming years. Investments are predominantly partly to having the highest rate of water system 17-city average of 202 kg. This relatively low GDP per person (current prices) (US$) e 11,580.8 being made in infrastructure to accommodate leakages in the Index. Rio’s performance com- level of CO2 emissions is a result of a very high Environmental Governance 2 Population density (persons/km ) 5,234.1 an expected heavy inflow of visitors. pares favourably when measured against the contribution of renewable energy to the city’s Overall Results Temperature (24-hour average, annual) (°C) 25.0 Rio ranks above average overall in the Latin seven cities of similar incomes (those with a GDP electricity production. Eighty-eight percent of Based on City of Rio de Janeiro, e) EIU estimate The order of the dots within the performance bands has no bearing on the cities’ results. 88 89 Latin American Green City Index | Rio de Janeiro_Brazil Brazilian cities in the Index. Nonetheless Rio con- following the adoption of a state initiative to Green initiatives: Nova Cedae, the state waste. Rio’s rugged topography prevents the requires yearly emissions tests for all licensed to environmental monitoring, management and tinues to suffer from endemic traffic problems, improve waste collection and disposal, and waterworks company, is investing US$58 mil- dispersion of pollutants and high temperatures cars, and vehicles that exceed emissions limits enforcement. The city has a strong record for and the city has been slow to implement con- improve landfill standards across the entire state lion per year to stop illegal connections to the exacerbate the problem. Rio city has the highest are not allowed on state roads. Furthermore, the monitoring air, water, waste, sanitation, trans- gestion reduction policies. Officials say they are of Rio de Janeiro. The programme will provide city’s water supply. The company also now sup- incidence of nitrogen dioxide in the Index, with city is testing 15 so-called B20 buses that run on port, land use, human settlements, energy and creating limited vehicle zones, but other mea- municipalities a total of US$88 million each plies potable water to 111 of the city’s informal average daily levels at 58 micrograms per cubic diesel with a blend of 20% biodiesel. The city green spaces, including urban forests. Rio also sures such as “no-car days” or carpooling lanes year to eradicate all of the state’s open air settlements to reduce the need to connect ille- metre, versus the 17-city average of 38 micro- aims to have 8,500 B20 buses in operation by engages residents and NGOs on environmental are missing so far. dumps and ensure that waste is properly dis- gally. Additionally, schools in Rio teach water grams. However, thanks to Brazil’s extensive 2016. Authorities say the full fleet of B20 buses projects. Non-governmental stakeholders have, posed. It also places emphasis on recycling and conservation as part of the curriculum. ethanol programme, levels of sulphur dioxide will reduce CO2 emissions by 148,000 tonnes for example, played a significant role in drafting Green initiatives: The city and state trans- composting.

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