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Arayara Institute Receives Condemnation at CNMA Against Exploratory Frontier in the Amazon, Thermal Power Plant in DF and Gas Extraction by Fracking.
The controversy surrounding the construction of a fossil fuel-powered thermal power plant in the Federal District and the continuation of gas extraction through the fracking method has sparked intense debates among authorities and environmentalists, with the Arayara Institute at the forefront of these discussions. Significant documents were signed by over 20% of the two thousand delegates who participated in the event over three days, discussing one hundred proposals that emerged from preliminary stages that engaged around 2,570 municipalities in various municipal, intermunicipal, and free conferences.
Reconstruction of Crucial Dialogues
The central purpose of this meeting was to revitalize the dialogue between civil society and the government regarding environmental policies and addressing the climate emergency. The 5th National Conference on the Environment (CNMA) took place in Brasília, signaling the return of this event after an 11-year hiatus. In the motion against the opening of a new exploratory frontier for oil on the Amazon coast, the Arayara Institute expresses its ‘deep condemnation’ of the advance of exploration in the region, characterized by its unique and sensitive biodiversity, protected by traditional peoples, including indigenous groups, fishermen, and quilombolas.
Importance of Preservation
‘The Amazon must be preserved against new risks of devastation, which are incompatible with a careful approach that deserves to be promoted,’ declares Juliano Araújo, president of the Arayara Institute. Another accepted motion addresses the Thermal Power Plant of Brasília (UTE). The project, led by Termo Norte Energia, uses fossil gas, challenging the environmental commitments made by governments, advocating at the Conference for emission reductions, environmental protection, and a just energy transition.
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Deep Impact of UTE Brasília
The Arayara Institute emphasizes that the UTE Brasília represents a serious setback to the efforts of environmental organizations and society in general to combat the climate emergency. The impacts are described as devastating and unacceptable. Among the expected damages to the population of the Federal District and Brazil, the installation of the UTE in Samambaia would result in air quality degradation, intensification of the water crisis, and adverse effects on education, including the displacement of 550 students due to the demolition of the Guariroba Class School, which cost R$ 4.5 million to the government of Brasília.
Public Hearing and Questions
A public hearing on the project, initially scheduled for March, was postponed by a court decision obtained by the Arayara Institute, pointing out failures in disclosure. IBAMA set a new date, June 17, 2025, at 7 PM, to discuss the Environmental Impact Report of the power plant. According to Juliano Araújo, besides the significant environmental damage, building a new thermal power plant represents a high cost compared to more sustainable alternatives, essential in light of the climate crisis. ‘It is not about deactivating existing UTEs, but rather focusing on available technology to avoid new polluting installations.’
History of Environmental Success
With 33 years of operation, the International Arayara Institute estimates it has prevented the emission of over 3 billion tons of CO₂, a significant contribution that has helped save approximately 675 thousand lives and prevent economic losses exceeding US$ 1.2 trillion. With its crucial role in the fight against environmental degradation and in supporting a sustainable energy transition, the Arayara Institute continues to be an important protagonist in environmental issues at both the national and international levels.
Source: Press Arayara Institute
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