“There is a short time to manage the environmental changes on the world stage”, stated the Secretary of Research and Development Policies and Programmes of the Ministry of Sciences, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Carlos Nobre, on this Tuesday (12). He participated in the debate on climate and other environmental changes in the Forum on Sciences, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development, which is being held at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio).

For the Secretary, the current situation, with regard to the environment, comprises certain critical aspects for a more detailed analysis and, thus, the search for solutions (and their deployment): the acceleration of global heating, the limits and reality of our ecosystem (rise of the level of oceans, the loss of biodiversity, increased temperature, among others), as well as interconnected problems that equally require interconnected solutions. He said he expects that the Rio+20 Conference marks the time when the world population is able to start thinking together to handle the damages.

Nobre highlighted once more Brazil's position in relation to the preventive public policies for the sector, due to the positive outcomes derived from the decrease of Amazon's deforestation and the targets for the reduction of emissions. For him, the Brazilian participation in the forum reflects a recognition of the advance of the national scientific community.

“In seven years, we had a 77%-reduction in deforestation figures and there are several restoration programmes focused on the Atlantic Forest”, he noted. “Brazil is concerned with the restoration and the quality of the services of its ecosystems and the environmental quality as a whole. The participation of the country in events like this one is important because it shows the recognition of our professionals. Today, the Brazilian scientists engaged in this area already participate actively in the discussions and process for fostering the world knowledge on the subject.” 

                                                                                                                            Text: Juliana d' Arêde – Press Office, MCTI