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City faces environmental controversy with project that aims to serve 155 thousand people, but at the cost of more than a thousand trees being cut down.
Another controversial work can transform Curitiba — but will it be the city or nature that will pay the price?
Behind the ambitious Inter 2 project, which promises to revolutionize urban mobility in one of the most developed cities in the country, is the prediction of an environmental impact of worrying proportions, directly affecting the daily lives of residents and the landscape of the capital of Paraná.
With thousands of trees under threat, residents of 28 neighborhoods find themselves divided between the promised progress and the environmental price.
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Urban mobility and the promise of Inter 2
The Inter 2 project, an initiative by the City of Curitiba in conjunction with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), aims to transform the city through a mobility corridor that promises to serve 155 thousand passengers daily.
This circular corridor seeks to interconnect different urban axes, promoting an alternative for traffic and reducing dependence on private vehicles, using electric buses in its structure.
However, progress has generated a series of environmental concerns.
In order for Inter 2 to operate, 1.089 adult trees will be cut down, many of them located in regions with significant green areas.
According to data from the SOS Arthur Bernardes movement, in just one specific section — the lot on Rua Presidente Arthur Bernardes, which has a two-kilometer linear park — 624 healthy trees will be removed to make way for new roads and infrastructure.
Verônica Rodrigues, a resident and activist in the movement, harshly criticizes the work, stating that, although the project is sold as sustainable, “it is not sustainable at all”.
Greenwashing and environmental impact
As reported by SOS organizers Arthur Bernardes, the city government's justification for the environmental impact of Inter 2 is the use of electric buses, which promises to reduce emissions in the future.
However, Verônica accuses the project of “greenwashing” — a term that describes practices that mask actions that are harmful to the environment with a false appearance of sustainability.
The activist highlights that the IDB, the project's financier, also has responsibility, as it has policies to address climate crises that, however, are being neglected in this case.
Biologist Ionete Hasse was one of the first to realize the environmental risks of Inter 2, when she participated in a public meeting where the removal of trees was announced.
“As a biologist, my initial concern was with the extent of the vegetation suppressed in the green corridor of Rua Presidente Arthur Bernardes”, commented Ionete, in an interview with ICL Notícias.
Seeking clarification, she contacted the city hall, which responded only vaguely: “trees will be cut down”.
Resistance movement gains strength
The unsatisfactory response led Ionete to start the SOS Arthur Bernardes movement, placing a banner in her apartment with the phrase “SOS Arthur Bernardes”, which quickly became the symbol of the protest.
Since May 2023, the mobilization has already collected more than 10 thousand signatures and gained the support of several entities, including the NGO Observatory of Justice and Conservation, which filed a Public Civil Action to try prevent the continuation of the works.
Verônica Rodrigues says that the movement quickly gained support and has impacted several neighborhoods in Curitiba. “The city is at a standstill.
The works have caused traffic disruptions and are making it difficult for people to come and go,” says Verônica. In addition, there is criticism regarding the lack of transparency in the project.
According to SOS leaders Arthur Bernardes, There was no public hearing or environmental impact study suitable for a work of such magnitude.
Work: iirregularities and impacts on daily life
According to Verônica, the project lacks neighborhood and environmental impact studies, which would compromise its viability in terms of sustainability and safety.
“The city government is authoritarian and ignored the possibility of alternative locations,” she comments, referring to a legal procedure that evaluates alternative locations to minimize impacts on large-scale construction projects.
The absence of these studies raises concerns among residents, who accuse the public administration of violating both environmental and administrative standards.
Following a complaint from the SOS Arthur Bernardes movement, the Public Prosecutor's Office issued an injunction to temporarily suspend the works, but the city government appealed and managed to reverse the decision.
The movement, however, continues to pressure authorities and seek popular support to maintain the fight in defense of threatened green areas.
Similar cases in other regions
Curitiba is not the only Brazilian city facing this type of controversy. In São Paulo, councilwoman Renata Falzoni was detained in October 2024 during a protest in Vila Mariana, against the felling of 180 trees.
The city of São Paulo intends to open two tunnels in the region, but the measure has generated strong resistance from residents and activists.
“The tunnel will not solve the mobility issue, it will displace 500 people and destroy the river’s source,” criticized Falzoni.
According to the councilor, the project foresees the removal of a cycle path and a central flowerbed, damaging both the local fauna and the conditions for active mobility.
Reflection on the future of the city
The controversy over Curitiba's Inter 2 project raises questions about the limits of urban development and the price that cities should or should not pay in the name of mobility.
With a growing number of citizens opposing interventions that compromise green areas, what really defines a project as sustainable? Curitiba faces a dilemma, and the struggle of its residents may inspire new reflections on the balance between progress and preservation.
And you, what do you think? Is progress worth the environmental sacrifice? Leave your comment!
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