Past and current policy issues concerning tropical deforestation in Brazil

This paper discusses past and current policies concerning tropical deforestation in Brazil. In the last few years, the Brazilian government has reviewed and changed many aspects of past policies that encouraged deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon forest. Although the new set of policies is not fully implemented and, therefore, its effectiveness in controlling deforestation cannot yet be measured, a qualitative analysis of these policies suggests that they should enhance forest preservation in Brazil.

Market-based Instruments for Environmental Policymaking in Latin America and the Caribbean: Lessons from Eleven Countries

This report is a summary of country studies in Latin America and the Caribbean, addressing the use of market-based instruments (MBIs) and command-and-control (CAC) measures for environmental management in the region. Even though MBIs can significantly add efficiency to existing CAC mechanisms, the scope of MBIs should match the countries institutional capacity to implement them. Gradual and flexible reforms are likely to succeed within the current regional context of continued institutional changes. A key function of MBIs is usually revenue collection, though it does not necessarily lead to successful environmental management. The study suggests that revenues should be channeled to local authorities for an effective MBI's implementation. The report also critiques the regular practice of international donor agencies in recommending the solutions suitable for developed countries, without considering the institutional conditions in developing countries. Further, the study explores both the successes and difficulties experienced in the region regarding regulations, macro-policies, and MBIs; the institutional frameworks of the countries under review; and, the issues considered in the design of MBIs, in order to promote a beneficial dialogue among them

The pattern of compliance with environmental regulation: evidence from the automobile industry

Air pollution concentrations have been rapidly increasing in the major urban areas of Brazil caused mainly by the increasing use of vehicles. In response, mandatory emission standards were introduced by the Programa de Controle da Poluigao Veicular (Proconve) in 1988. This paper uses pollution emission and characteristics data to analyze the compliance of the automobile industry with pollution regulation during the 1992-1997 period. We find that the compliance trend adopted by manufacturers was not homogeneous. Larger automobiles had the fastest compliance schedule while popular models adjusted very slowly. Also gasoline-fueled models had a faster adjustment pattern than ethanol cars. We conclude that although the regulation was successful in reducing car emissions, no further regulation was established after 1997. Additional policies that could create incentives for selling cleaner automobiles and driving fewer miles should be introduced together with a coherent policy for providing alternative public transportation systems

Political factors and the efficiency of municipal expenditure in Brazil

This study analyses how political and institutional factors affected the performance of municipalities in improving social welfare in Brazil in the period from1990 to 2000. Themodel adopts a stochastic production frontier, conditioned by variables related to the provision costs of services and those that can affect municipal efficiency. The results indicated that we can not reject:1) economies of scale; 2) the effect of vote margin in the municipality and the type (first or second) of mandate of elected governor, which indicates a form of patronage; and 3) that local politics and the existence of sectorial boards did not affect the level of efficiency for municipal spending, suggesting an asymmetry of information between politics and voters.Este estudo analisa como fatores políticos e institucionais afetama eficiência do gasto municipal no provimento do bem estar para a população ao longo da década dos noventa. O modelo adota a abordagem da fronteira de produção estocástica, condicionada por variáveis relacionadas ao custo da provisão dos serviços e os incentivos que afetam a eficiência municipal. O resultado indica que não podemos rejeitar: 1) economias de escala; 2) o efeito da margem de voto no município e do tipo de mandato (primeiro ou segundo) do governador eleito, indicando uma forma de clientelismo; e que 3) a política local e a existência de comitê setoriais não afetam o nível da eficiência do gasto, o que sugere assimetria de informação entre os políticos e os eleitores

O programa nacional do álcool: realizações e reformulações

The Brazilian National Alcohol Programme - Proalcool - is now supplying half of the fuel consumed in passenger cars and 95% of these new cars being sold are alcohol models. The Proalcool experience can provide some important remarks on energy substitution programme in developing countries. As these economies are usually very regulated by the government, an energy programme can benefit from a set of incentives to perform successfully. However, once the energy scenario changes the government seems to neglect this reality. In the case of Proalcool, its insertion in the fuel market is now being considered not economically justifiable. The nature and implications of this process are explored and some adjustments for the programme are discussed.O Programa Nacional do Álcool - Proálcool - é hoje responsável por 50% do consumo de combustível de carros particulares, sendo que os modelos a álcool representaram 95% dos automóveis vendidos nos últimos anos. A experiênciado Proálcool oferece elementos importantes para os programas de energia altemativa de países em desenvolvimento, pois, devido ao fato de a economia destes ser parcialmente regulada, tais programas podem se beneficiar de uma série de incentivos. Entretanto, uma vez alterado o cenário energético, esta nova realidade pode exigir refonmulações, como ocorre no caso do Proálcool cuja participação no mercado de combustíveis não está sendo considerada economicamente justificável. A natureza e as implicações desse processo são aqui analisadas, sendo a seguir discutidas algumas propostas de reformulação do programa

Os impactos ambientais industriais da alca no Brasil

This study is an attempt to estimate the industrial environmental impacts due to FTAA in Brazil. Based on these CGE model results from Tourinho and Kume (2002), we estimate the resulting changes of pollution emission and water and energy use levels in the Brazilian industrial sector due to FTAA. Our results are very interesting since economy-aggregate direct environmental impacts of FTAA on the Brazilian economy are expected to be, in general, very minor and in the direction of a lower air pollution intensity (paniculate and SO2) and energy uses. Flowever, it is expected an increasing intensity in water pollution and uses and CO2 emissions. These changes will occur in few sectors where already exist dynamic technological and environmental policies and motivation to meet export market stricter environmental rules

Morbidity costs associated with ambient air pollution exposure in Sao Paulo, Brazil

AbstractIn 2007 we conducted a contingent valuation survey in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to estimate the population's willingness–to–pay (WTP) to avoid one hospital admission (HA) and one emergency–room visit (ER) due to respiratory diseases in adults and children younger than 5 years old; and cardiovascular diseases in adults only; both associated with atmospheric air pollution. Our annual mean WTP estimates are €81.82 (adult) and €137.92 (child) for HA; €48.40 (adult) and €90.66 (child) for ER due to respiratory diseases; €53.57 (ER) and €90.08 (HA) for cardiovascular diseases. Our results suggest altruism towards children, and a strong income effect on WTP. Results will help analysts evaluating the health benefits of specific policies with potential air pollution impacts in Sao Paulo, Brazil

O desconforto térmico provocado pelos equipamentos de proteção individual (EPI) utilizados na aplicação de agrotóxicos

O metabolismo humano produz calor devido ao esforço físico nas atividades laborais. O corpo humano funciona como sistema termodinâmico que mantem a temperatura corporal constante. A utilização de Equipamento de Proteção Individual (EPI) dificulta a dissipação do calor gerado e a manutenção da temperatura corporal num nível confortável. Este estudo analisou a interferência dos EPI no conforto térmico dos trabalhadores rurais através de medições das frequências cardíacas e das temperaturas corporais dos trabalhadores durante a pulverização de agrotóxicos. Também foram feitas avaliações da sensação térmica dos trabalhadores através de um questionário. Os resultados encontrados demonstraram : (i) a inadequação dos EPI agrícolas, devido apresentarem uma interferência negativa no processo de termorregulação corporal e (ii) a existência de diferenças individuais significativas entre os trabalhadores monitorados. Este estudo mostrou, ainda que há uma correlação forte entre a avaliação da sensação térmica dos trabalhadores e da temperatura corporal medida.El metabolismo humano produce calor en las actividades laborales. El cuerpo humano funciona como un sistema termodinámico que mantiene constante la temperatura corporal. El uso de equipo de protección personal (EPP) dificulta la disipación del calor generado y el mantenimiento de la temperatura corporal a un nivel cómodo. Este estudio analizó la interferencia del EPP agrícola en el confort térmico de los trabajadores. Este estudio realizó mediciones de la frecuencia cardiaca y la temperatura corporal de los trabajadores que utilizan EPP durante el proceso de pulverización de pplaguicidas. Este estudio también hizo evaluaciones subjetivas de la sensación térmica de los trabajadores a través de un cuestionario. Los resultados demostraron : (i) la insuficiencia de proyectos de EPP agrícola, ya que han tenido un impacto negativo en el proceso de termorregulación corporal y (ii) la existencia de importantes diferencias individuales entre los operadores controlados, que pueden estar relacionadas con las estrategias operativas diferentes entre los operadores. Este estudio mostró que hay una fuerte correlación entre la evaluación subjetiva de la sensación térmica y la temperatura corporal.Métabolisme humain produit de la chaleur dans les activités de travail. Le corps humain fonctionne comme un système thermodynamique. L’utilisation de l’équipement de protection individuelle (EPI) empêche la dissipation de la chaleur générée. Cette étude a analysé l’interférence du EPI agricole dans le confort thermique des travailleurs. Cette étude a effectué des mesures de la fréquence cardiaque et la température corporelle des travailleurs utilisant EPI pendant le processus de pulvérisation de pesticides. Cette étude a également fait des évaluations subjectives de la sensation thermique des travailleurs par le biais d’un questionnaire. Les résultats ont démontré : (i) l’insuffisance des projets d’EPI agricoles parce qu’ils ont eu une interférence négative dans le processus de thermorégulation du corps et (ii) l’existence d’importantes différences individuelles entre les opérateurs contrôlés. Cette étude a montré qu’il existe une forte corrélation entre l’évaluation subjective de la sensation thermique et la température corporelle mesurée.Human metabolism produces heat during labor activities. The human body works as a thermodynamic system maintaining a steady body temperature. The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) jeopardizes the heat dissipation, making difficult to keep ain body temperature at a comfortable level. This study analyzed the interference of PPE in workers’ thermal comfort. This study made measurements of heart rate and body temperature of workers using PPE during the process of spraying pesticides. This study also made subjective evaluations of thermal sensation of workers through a questionnaire. The results demonstrated : (i) the inadequacy of PPE projects because they indicated a negative impact on body thermoregulation process and (ii) the existence of significant individual differences between the monitored workers, which may be related to different operating modes. This study showed that there is a strong correlation between the subjective evaluation of the thermal sensation by workers and body temperature measured

Deus, Felicidade Plena do Ser Humano: o conceito de Deus na Teologia de Andréa Torres Queiruga

Resumo: o propósito deste trabalho é apresentar como Queiruga vê a face de Deus, com um olhar crítico à visão individual, temporal, sem o crivo da visão de Jesus Cristo. Esse novo conceito de Deus não é excludente, mas apresentado como um Deus para todos, sendo o que ele diz ser: um Deus de amor. Palavras-chave: Imagem de Deus. Modernidade. Experiência de Abbá. Realização existencial