Quercus names drought, major fires and rising global temperatures as the worst environmental facts of the year and, on the positive side, emphasizes the creation of more protected marine areas and the mobilization of civil society.
In a note published this Thursday, the environmental association also points to expectations for 2024, highlighting the results of the climate summit, which produced final text that directly hints at the end of fossil fuel use.
“It is now important to promote consistent measures to achieve this goal in a balanced way, respecting the planet’s ability to renew its resources,” he said.
From a group of six worst environmental facts of 2023, in addition to major fires such as the Odemir fire, drought and rising global temperatures, Quercus points to tree cutting in the name of the energy transition and the European Commission’s approval of the herbicide glyphosate for another 10 years.
“This decision is surprising given the growing body of scientific evidence about the health risks associated with glyphosate, namely that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified glyphosate as carcinogenic to animals and probably carcinogenic to humans.” Quercus, remembering that in Portugal, the “highest level of contamination in the sample” was found, 30 times the legal limit for each substance.
The wars in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip have also been cited as the worst environmental events of the year, with environmentalists mindful that adding to the humanitarian drama are environmental consequences due to land destruction, greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption. for military operations.
On the positive side, Quercus highlights the top four environmental facts of 2023: the growing mobilization of civil society to address environmental issues; creating more marine protected areas in the Azores; statement on the adverse environmental impacts of the Estoy photovoltaic power plant project in the Algarve and the creation of the European Alliance for Regenerative Agriculture.
As its wishes for next year, the association cites the need to move forward with “consistent measures” to end the use of fossil fuels, as defined at COP 28 in Dubai.
“Particularly in our country, despite delays in their preparation, municipal climate action plans can be an opportunity to achieve this goal in processes that involve maximum participation and cooperation,” he says.
Quercus’s expectations for 2024 also include improving conservation and ecosystem restoration policies “by updating scientific knowledge of fauna populations published in 2023”, as well as improving waste management performance, implementing structural measures to address water shortages, particularly in southern Australia. a country.
New genetically modified organisms (GMOs), namely organisms produced through new genomic techniques (NGT), and an increase in environmental litigation with a “predictable turn to legal action” on various issues are also among Quercua’s expectations for the next year.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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