By Claudia Andrade
Saramandaia, Tragedy, and Climate Injustice: Reflections on a Global Problem with Local Roots
The tragedy in Saramandaia, a community located in the neighborhood of Pernambués in the city of Salvador, capital of the state of Bahia, Brazil, cannot be explained solely as the result of heavy rains. The scenes of despair lost lives, and buried people expose a more complex reality that goes beyond meteorology. They reflect the intersection of climate change, social exclusion, and historical neglect that are repeated in similar contexts around the world.
The rains that devastated Salvador are part of a growing pattern of extreme weather events intensified by global warming. According to the IPCC, the increase in the frequency and intensity of these events is a direct reflection of climate change. But in this case, the problem goes beyond the climate. Communities like Saramandaia - which have faced social exclusion for decades - are especially vulnerable due to the lack of basic infrastructure and public policies that protect against disasters.
This situation is also intrinsically linked to environmental racism, a global phenomenon in which marginalized communities, usually made up of black or low-income people, are relegated to risky areas devoid of adequate services and protection. In Salvador, a city marked by historical inequalities, Saramandaia is an example of this reality: a space where the right to safe and dignified housing is still denied to many.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer an essential guide to prevent tragedies like these from happening again. SDG 11, on “Sustainable Cities and Communities,” highlights the need for resilient infrastructure and safe housing for all. SDG 13, “Action on Global Climate Change,” calls for urgent action to mitigate the impacts of climate change. And SDG 10, on “Reducing Inequalities,” shows that it is impossible to dissociate social justice from sustainability.
The question that remains is: who is to blame? The unexpected rains, climate change, or the government disaster? The answer is that all these factors are intertwined. The climate crisis amplifies pre-existing inequalities, while historical negligence and a lack of urban planning turn heavy rains into human tragedies.
Saramandaia is not an isolated case; it is a microcosm of the challenges faced by many communities in similar contexts around the world. It is a painful reminder that the fight for climate justice is also a fight against social and racial inequality. What happened there cannot just be mourned - it must serve as a global wake-up call so that, amid the climate crisis, no one is left behind.
Text: Claudia Andrade
@cauvic2
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