{"id":78189,"date":"2024-05-24T11:06:07","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T14:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=78189"},"modified":"2024-06-03T09:18:25","modified_gmt":"2024-06-03T12:18:25","slug":"rio-de-janeiros-sustainable-favela-network-holds-meetings-and-participates-in-public-hearing-on-world-energy-week-at-the-national-congress-in-brasilia-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=78189","title":{"rendered":"World Energy Week: Rio de Janeiro\u2019s Sustainable Favela Network Holds Meetings and Participates in Public Hearing for a Just Transition at the National Congress in Bras\u00edlia [RELEASE]"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

THE DELEGATION OF 19 COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS REPRESENTING FAVELAS WITH 1.2 MILLION RESIDENTS HEADS TO BRAS\u00cdLIA FOR ENERGY JUSTICE<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

On May 27-29, World Energy Week, a delegation of 26 members of Rio de Janeiro\u2019s Sustainable Favela Network* and partners, heads to Bras\u00edlia for a series of activities at the National Congress, fighting for just and clean energy in the favelas. [PDF Version of Release<\/a>]
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Introduction to the Delegation and Schedule of Events<\/b><\/h3>\n
\""Energy<\/a>
Energy Efficiency in the Favelas<\/em> report reflects the reality of 1,156 families (4,164 people) in 15 favelas across five municipalities in Greater Rio<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 24, 2024 \u2014 A delegation of<\/a> 19 community organizers<\/strong> from favelas across Greater Rio de Janeiro, including both youth and veteran leaders, along with 7 technical allies<\/strong> from the Sustainable Favela Network<\/a><\/strong>, has a busy agenda in Bras\u00edlia during World Energy Week (May 27-29). They will be engaging in discussions focused on three critical agendas<\/strong><\/a> for a clean and just energy transition in Brazil. The delegation is accompanied by a group of national-level partner organizations<\/a>, who together will realize a crucial debate on energy justice.<\/p>\n

The group, which has been researching and developing energy solutions in favelas<\/strong>, published Energy Efficiency in the Favelas<\/em> <\/strong><\/a>in 2023, which offers an otherwise inaccessible perspective on the energy injustice affecting their communities. The citizen-generated data project surveyed nearly 1200 households across 15 favelas in Greater Rio. Collectively, the communities represented by the delegation traveing to Bras\u00edlia have over 1.2 million residents. Access the study here<\/a><\/strong>, with key findings below<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The schedule<\/strong> of events in Bras\u00edlia includes a public meeting<\/strong> on the morning of May 27<\/strong>, in Plenary Room 16<\/strong> of Annex II of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, offering an in-depth exploration of the research data<\/strong> alongside testimonies<\/strong> about affected residents and solutions<\/strong> developed by the communities themselves. Private meetings will take place with federal authorities from ANEEL<\/em> <\/strong>(agency responsible for regulating electric energy in Brazil), the Ministry of Mines and Energy<\/strong><\/em>, the Ministry of Cities<\/em><\/strong>, the Parliamentary Environmental Front<\/em><\/strong>, and several federal deputies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

On the morning of May 29, World Energy Day<\/strong>, the delegation will participate in the public hearing<\/strong> “Just Energy Transition: The Social Role of Solar Energy<\/a><\/strong>” organized by the Federal Commission on Mines and Energy, with two of Rio’s leaders on the panel, in Plenary Room 14<\/strong> of Annex II of the Chamber of Deputies.<\/p>\n

Parliamentary aides, journalists, and all interested parties are welcome to attend both the meeting on the 27 and the hearing on the 29. See program below<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Favelas Generate Energy Solutions Beyond Data
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In addition to presenting data and testimonials problematizing access and quality of electricity in their communities, the delegation includes four leaders who are generating solutions<\/strong> to the challenges mentioned. Luis Cassiano<\/a> <\/strong>from Green Roof Favela<\/strong> will share the experience of a green roof<\/strong> in Parque Arar\u00e1, North Zone of Rio, where temperatures beneath his roof are significantly lower than in the surrounding neighborhood in the heights of the summer. Ot\u00e1vio Barros<\/a> <\/strong>from the Vale Encantado Cooperative<\/strong> will share the story of a biosystem responsible for treating the community’s sewage in Vale Encantado, along with the biodigester that generates gas for the cooperative’s kitchen and their solar panels. Nill Santos<\/a> <\/strong>will tell the story of her Association of Women With Attitude and Social Commitment<\/strong>, providing support to victims of domestic violence, who found in solar energy<\/strong> a means of generating income and independence. And Dinei Medina<\/a> <\/strong>will inspire\u2014drawing from his experience with Brazil’s first solar energy cooperative<\/strong> in favelas, Revolusolar<\/strong>\u2014an understanding of the immense potential that distributed generation, conducted within favelas, can bring to society as a whole<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Three Crucial and Interdependent Agendas<\/b><\/p>\n

The<\/span> Sustainable Favela Network delegation will focus on three agendas <\/b>during World Energy Week in Bras\u00edlia. They are:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The renewal of electricity concessions<\/b>, which in Brazil takes place every 30 years and is currently up for consideration in Congress, during which the group will address concerns regarding access to and the quality of electricity reaching favelas, and implications for the terms of concession contract renewals.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Social tariff<\/b>, which in Brazil is required to reach the most vulnerable, yet does not take place: the delegation will share how electricity has gained new centrality in favelas yet there is little effective access to an affordable tariff.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Social solar energy<\/b>: the delegation will fight for the adoption of and broad access to solar energy in favelas as a solution, including for the issues raised in the previous items, providing autonomy and sustainability to communities and contributing to society as a whole.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Public Meeting to Present Data and Insights from Across Greater Rio
    \n<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The public meeting, organized by the Sustainable Favela Network delegation, is a space to provide a thorough presentation<\/strong> of the data<\/strong>, realities<\/strong>, and solutions<\/strong> from Rio’s favelas to parliamentary aides and journalists. It is a crucial complement to<\/strong> the specialists’ discussions on solar energy to take place at the public hearing<\/strong>. We encourage everyone to participate fully in both public events<\/strong> for a comprehensive lesson on the impact of energy on favela communities and the pathways to address the significant challenge of just energy transition in Brazil. The public meeting, titled “Energy Justice in the Favelas: On-the-Ground Data and Solutions,”<\/strong> will take place on May 27, 2024, from 9am-12pm<\/strong> in Plenary Room 16 of Annex II<\/strong> of the Chamber of Deputies.<\/p>\n

    Public Hearing to Focus on Social Solar on World Energy Day
    \n<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The public hearing<\/strong>, solicited to congressional officials by the Sustainable Favela Network delegation and partners working on this issue, was convened by the Permanent Committee on Mines and Energy of Brazil’s National Congress<\/strong> through the office of Congressman Bandeira de Mello. The focus will be “Just Energy Transition – The Social Role of Solar Energy.”<\/strong> It will take place on May 29, 2024, World Energy Day, from 10am-1pm<\/strong> in Plenary Room 14 of Annex II<\/strong> of the Chamber of Deputies.<\/p>\n

    The following <\/span>members and partners of the SFN delegation will be on the panel: <\/b>Eduardo Avila, Executive Director of <\/span>Revolusolar<\/b>; Jos\u00e9 Gustavo F\u00e1varo Barbosa Silva, representative of <\/span>Lemon Energia<\/b>, a climate tech company founded with the aim of democratizing access to sustainable energy for the entire Brazilian population; Kayo Moura, author of the <\/span>Energy Efficiency in Favelas <\/span><\/i>report and data coordinator at <\/span>LabJaca<\/b>, a research laboratory focused on citizen-generated data and narrative-building in favelas and peripheries; Nilcimar Santos from the <\/span>Association of Women With Attitude and Social Commitment<\/b>, the first solar installation empowering women in the municipality of Duque de Caxias, Greater Rio de Janeiro; and Rodrigo Faria, representative of <\/span>Instituto P\u00f3lis<\/b>, along with other specialists on social solar energy.<\/span>\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

    Schedule of Events<\/b><\/h3>\n

    Monday, May 27
    \nTime: <\/b>9:00am – 12:00pm
    \nDescription: <\/b>Launch of World Energy Week\u2014Public Meeting in Congress: “Energy Justice in the Favelas: On-the-Ground Data and Solutions,” the most comprehensive presentation of data, stories, and solutions to be held during the week on the topic of energy injustice, and the ideal complement to the topics that will be addressed at the Public Hearing on Wednesday (see below).
    \nLocation: <\/b>Plenary Room 16<\/strong>, Annex II, Chamber of Deputies
    \n<\/b><\/p>\n

    Wednesday, May 29
    \nTime: <\/b>10:00am – 1:00pm
    \nDescription: <\/b>Organized by the Permanent Committee on Mines and Energy, Public Hearing in the National Congress on “Just Energy Transition: The Social Role of Solar Energy”
    \nLocation: Plenary Room 14<\/strong>, Annex II, Chamber of Deputies
    \n<\/b><\/p>\n

    Closed presentations will also be held with the Ministry of Mines and Energy, ANEEL, Ministry of Cities,the National Congress’s Environmental Front and individual federal deputies.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

    About the Study ‘Energy Efficiency in the Favelas’<\/em>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The data presented in the report <\/span>Energy Efficiency in the Favelas<\/i><\/b><\/a> reflect the reality of 1,156 families<\/a> (4,164 people) in 15 favelas from five municipalities across the Greater Rio metropolitan region, and specifically show the <\/span>relationship between energy, poverty, and social inequality<\/b>, focusing on the <\/span>efficiency of service provision and use<\/b>. The wealth of information produced by this analysis was striking even to those involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DATA<\/h4>\n

    Efficiency and Quality of Access<\/strong><\/p>\n