Eleventh International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

In the developing countries climate change is one of the greatest socio-ecological challenge due to the population growth; rapid urbanization; social inequality; lack of urban planning and education. Majority of developing countries such as Brazil is expected to be at increased risks of hydrological extremes due to the growing impact of climate change. Accordingly, the current study aims to review the socio-ecological climate change effects in the municipality of Blumenau, southern Brazil. The current review also offers an overall overview of the 2008 natural disaster impact on Blumenau within multiple aspects. The Blumenau has a long history of heavy rains that triggered several floods (68 events) since its foundation in 1850. Though it is a developed municipality, it was one of the most affected from 2008 disaster, which was catastrophic disaster that happened in southern Brazil in 2008. Heavy rains struck in this region for three months which led to floods and landslides in many municipalities, affecting 1.5 million people, with 135 dead and >80,000 displaced. In the Blumenau >100,000 thousand people were affected, with 24 dead, 25,000 displaced and 5,209 homeless. The public systems of water and energy supply were failed, roads were blocked, the public transportation and the gas supply were interrupted, the schools were paralyzed, the health service focused only in emergencies. The low income population was the most affected by this disaster and there are still families without a house, living in shelters. Still the impact of 2008 disaster is high on the Blumenau people.