Quilombola Communities Demand Inclusion in Brazil’s Climate and Food Sovereignty Policies
Quilombolas launch a comprehensive climate policy proposal demanding recognition and funding, while Brazil advances legislation promoting traditional foods in school meals to support food sovereignty.
- • Conaq launched the NDC Quilombola demanding Brazil recognize quilombola territories in climate policy and allocate 40% of climate funds to these communities.
- • Titled quilombola lands have significantly lower deforestation rates compared to private lands, underscoring their role in climate mitigation.
- • Brazilian Senate approved PL 880/2021 to mandate 5% inclusion of traditional community products in national school meals, promoting food sovereignty.
- • Both initiatives focus on social, racial, and climate justice, advancing traditional communities’ rights and recognition in Brazil’s national policies.
Key details
On October 16, 2023, the Coordenação Nacional de Articulação das Comunidades Negras Rurais Quilombolas (Conaq) launched the NDC Quilombola, a document demanding Brazil’s national climate policies specifically recognize quilombola territories and prioritize their needs. The NDC Quilombola aligns with Brazil’s 2035 greenhouse gas emissions reduction commitments and calls for 40% of climate financing—both national and international, including Fundo Clima, Fundo Amazônia, and Fundo Verde para o Clima—to be allocated directly to quilombola communities.
The document emphasizes the effectiveness of titled quilombola lands in mitigating deforestation, noting only a 3.2% loss of native vegetation since 1985 compared to 17% for private lands. Conaq’s three strategic axes include Territorial and Land Management with goals to title 44 territories by 2026 and 536 by 2030; Just Energy Transition, demanding consultation for quilombola communities on 1,385 mining and infrastructure projects; and Sustainable Development focused on social, racial, and climate justice. Political advocate Selma Dealdina affirmed that quilombos are both vulnerable to and key in combating climate change.
In parallel, Brazilian Senator Jaques Wagner spearheaded legislation (PL 880/2021) approved by the Human Rights Commission to mandate a minimum 5% quota of products from traditional communities—indigenous, quilombola, and others—in school meals nationwide. This law aims to enhance food sovereignty and ensure the cultural relevance of foods served to traditional community children, addressing issues with processed foods previously supplied, especially in indigenous territories in Amazonas. Senator Damares Alves highlighted the initiative’s potential to generate income for these communities while promoting culturally appropriate nutrition.
Together, these developments represent significant advances in recognizing and integrating the rights and knowledge of quilombola and other traditional communities into Brazil’s broader climate and social policies. According to Milene Maia of the Instituto Socioambiental, this marks an important step toward combating environmental racism and strengthening governmental accountability for traditional territories.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.