@InProceedings{Santos:2018:SuDeSo,
author = "Santos, Raquel Henriques Melo",
affiliation = "{Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE)}",
title = "Sustainable development and socioeconomic inclusion in areas of
water source protection",
year = "2018",
organization = "Adaptation Futures: International Climate Change Adaptation
Conference, 5.",
abstract = "One of the consequences of climate change is the intensification
of extreme events, including increased storms in some regions and
extended droughts in others. In 2014, the megacity of S{\~a}o
Paulo, in the southeastern part of Brazil, experienced a critical
water crisis. The magnitude of it left millions suffering from
intermittent disruptions in water supplies and its consequences
unfolded throughout the region. Scientists predict further warming
and reduction in precipitation for the southeast of Brazil for the
coming decades (Chou et al., 2014). In Brazil, the Metropolitan
Area of S{\~a}o Paulo (MASP) consists of S{\~a}o Paulo city plus
38 other municipalities with a population of almost 22 million,
making it the largest metropolis in the southern hemisphere.
Approximately 54% of its total area is in water source protection.
MASP water sources have strategic importance, both
socioeconomically and environmentally. Therefore, the
municipalities within protected areas should be the target of
special attention. It is commonly inferred that the environmental
legislation imposed to the population in the water protection
areas is the cause of their economic stagnation and low social
conditions. Our study aims to determine the dynamics of
development identified within three dimensions - economic, social
and environmental - and applied to the 39 municipalities of the
MASP. It investigates whether the preservation of water sources is
attained at the cost of socioeconomic development of the host
region. Therefore we measure and compare living standards and
environmental wellbeing for the MASP municipalities, given that
the goal is to secure sustainable development and preservation of
water sources. The first step of the methodology is to develop a
geographic database for the municipalities in the study area,
including economic, social and environmental indicators. In the
next step, the methodology of the Barometer of Sustainability (BS)
is used as a tool to measure development and wellbeing of a
society/region. Indicators for human and ecosystem wellbeing are
aggregated in thematic and dimensional indices. Subsequently,
performance scales are generated for each indicator, allowing the
identification of vulnerabilities and the proposal of adaptive
measures. Preliminary analysis has shown that municipalities with
the highest percentage of water sources in their area perform the
highest for environmental wellbeing while presenting some of the
lowest socioeconomic indicators. Further investigation will be
conducted to determine the perspectives of a sustainable
development and socioeconomic inclusion for the water source
protection areas, considering the local context and within
environmental limits. This study can be used as a preliminary
analysis to guide policy makers and other stakeholders as to where
their municipalities stand in relation to development. It can also
assist in the identification of priorities in line with public
policies. Future updates can be incorporated and another
assessment performed as new data becomes available. By doing so,
municipalities will be able to monitor progress towards achieving
the goals of sustainable development. Overall this work can
determine the premises for a socioeconomic development compatible
with the conservation of a natural resource. The challenge is to
find balance between economic growth and environmental protection
by integrating environmental policies and reducing social
inequalities within the general framework of sustainable
development.",
conference-location = "Cape Town, South Africa",
conference-year = "18-21 June",
language = "en",
urlaccessdate = "28 abr. 2024"
}