Through the course of reading, researching and writing for this blog, I’ve come to realise that nature-societal relations, though not explicitly mentioned in formal documents or policymaking, are the foci of urban planning and an integral form of Rio’s global significance. However difficult it may be to appease everyone with the right policy, it has…

The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the extent of Rio’s deeply embedded socio-political problems. Initially, COVID-19 was thought of as a disease affecting only those in the asphalt, emphasising the stark contrast between cariocas who could afford to travel and live luxurious lives to those living in the hill. However, coronavirus does not discriminate against a…

By living in a major urban centre, the cariocas have effectively distanced themselves from greenery and vegetation. Despite Rio’s geography of mountainous regions brimming with foliage and plant life, the cariocas‘ lack of everyday experiences with greenery suggest that interaction with nature is a scarcity for those in both the hills and asphalt (Guayasamín et…

Treating sewage across Rio’s vast metropolis is an intricate issue entwined with the social and political marginalisation of favelas. Though untreated wastewater affects both people of the hills and people of the asphalt, the impacts of poor sanitation are greater for those in poorer and informal communities. Only a small percentage of water flows are…

Water resource management is a contentious issue in contemporary Brazil. Urbanisation and the growth of regional economic nodes across Brazil has increased demands for food and energy. As such, the expansion of the agricultural sector and the country-wide reliance on hydropower contributes to issues of water scarcity within cities. Though a large proportion of Brazil’s…

Solid waste management is an issue for all urban agglomerations as the excessive consumption of modern lifestyles inevitably produce vast amounts of refuse. Rio de Janeiro’s population of 6.5 million produces around 9050 tonnes of solid waste per day, equating to around 1.5kg per person per day (Tirado-Soto and Zamberlan 2013). The ‘formal’ solutions for…

Civic bodies have encouraged the rethinking of governance over air in Rio de Janeiro in a bid to reduce dangerous levels of air pollution. Despite Rio’s self-proclaimed image of a reformed, clean and green city, air pollution remains a central issue undermining the health of cariocas. Historically, the city faced increasing pressure from a rapidly…

Hi there! Welcome to my blog dedicated to exploring the urban political ecology of Rio de Janeiro. Urban political ecology is a theoretical approach focused on examining the political, social and environmental dimensions of urban problems. As such, the context of the following blog posts will address urban issues specific to Rio de Janeiro. Located…