SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR WATER GOVERNANCE (SPECIAL SESSION - THEMATIC PROCESS)

SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR WATER GOVERNANCE (SPECIAL SESSION – THEMATIC PROCESS)

SOCIOENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE FOR WATER GOVERNANCE

(SPECIAL SESSION – THEMATIC PROCESS)

Contextualization

The session focused on the conflict between economic interests and socioenvironmental interests. It was discussed about the Brazilian energy matrix, very established with hydroelectric dams, such as Belo Monte, that directly affect the quality and quantity of water and the populations that depend on it. In all cases, the population is invited to defend the socioenvironmental causes, as it was found that both in the case of the São Francisco River, Xingu River (Brazil) and Lake Naivasha (Kenya), similar problems were observed: the population has duty to respond to measures that generate socioenvironmental injustice, and are taken by governments. Although the project has environmental licensing, it is not exempt from being questioned.

Recommendations

The need to strengthen other energy matrices was pointed out, as hydroelectric dams directly affect river resources. In addition, raise awareness of the need for river recovery, as water quality is being compromised. It is also recommended to strengthen basin committees to legitimize actions, with new spaces for a self-managing future generation, as it contributes to a more egalitarian and participatory society with the challenges of this new millennium (extreme events of rain and drought). Finally, it is important to manage ventures that interfere with water resources with broad public participation, listening to and incorporating their aspirations and recommendations. In the case of the construction of hydroelectric dams, it is important to deal with better quality/attention to the negative externalities that accompany the projects, contamination of rivers and lakes, death of biodiversity and economic loss by the riparian community are also a big part of the challenge.

Conclusions

The affected population should be the one to must manifest and ask for the support of institutions and universities regarding the impacts of hydroelectric dams. The participation of new social actors in water-related public policies should shift from a predominantly technical dimension of water management to one that involves questions about its multiple uses and forms of ownership; In other words, it is considered necessary to make room for debate and to question the exclusively mercantile considerations of water use and defend more equitable and sustainable forms and models of access and appropriation of this fundamental natural resource. Finally, quality and quantity alone are insufficient to discuss quality of life in all its aspects.