Rio's Maré Complex Highlights Climate Crisis

Martinelli Santana, 50, has lost count of how many times she has felt unwell due to the heat at work. Her routine is to prepare packed lunches in the kitchen of a trailer in the Nova Holanda community, in the Mare Complex, in Rio de Janeiro. What the cook feels is documented by experts: Nova Holanda is among the most affected favelas by heat islands in Mare. Working by a stove during the hottest hours of the day, in a metal structure, is no easy task, she says. But she cannot stop. Selling the meals is the main source of income for her household, where she lives with her 13-year-old son and her husband, who has back problems. In addition to the health issues the heat brings, the rains are a concern in Mare, points out a study that analyzed climate risks and vulnerabilities in the set of favelas, home to 140,000 people. The study by WayCarbon, a company focused on low-carbon economic transition solutions, in partnership with the NGO Redes da Mare, was launched at the end of 2023, containing warnings for the region. The rains, although they relieve the heat, cause floods, and this scenario is expected to worsen with climate change.