Environmental organizationsdemanded this Saturday (19) public commitments from the candidates running in the 2026 electionsregarding the preservation of waters, the Cerrado, and water-producing areas of the Federal District. The 2nd Political Act in Defense of Water, Climate, and Environment gathered movements, residents, government representatives, and candidates at the Anglican Church in Brasília, South Wing.
The event was organized bythe Defense Forum of Water, Climate, and Environment of the DFand was part of the campaign "Vote for Life, the Cerrado, and Water." All candidates from the Federal District were invited to the meeting. Among the attendees were District Deputies Gabriel Magno (PT) and Fábio Félix (Psol), and District Deputy and candidate for Governor of the DF Paula Belmonte (PSDB), the only executive candidate present at the event.
Also present were Federal Deputy Rodrigo Rollemberg (PSB) and representatives from other slates, such as Sofia Carvalho, vice-candidate on Ricardo Cappelli's (PSB) slate, and Dora Gomes, vice-candidate on Leandro Grass's (PT) slate. The meeting also included Senate candidate substitutes, including representatives from Erika Kokay's (PT) and Leila do Vôlei's (PDT) campaigns.
During the meeting, the organizations presented letters and demands related to the preservation of springs, aquifer recharge areas, watersheds, combating real estate speculation, and preparing the capital for extreme climate events.
For Lúcia Mendes, director of the Preserva Serrinha Association and coordinator of the Defense Forum of Water, Climate, and Environment of the Federal District, the climate crisis is already producing impacts that need to be considered in urban planning.
"Unfortunately, we still have more speeches about climate emergency than planning to address it. There is a more serious contradiction: while we know we need to adapt to the climate crisis, we continue to allow the destruction of territories that could protect us from it," she stated.
The environmentalist cited regions considered strategic for the water security of the Federal District, such as Águas Emendadas, the Descoberto basin, the Melchior River region, the Contagem Plateau, and Serrinha do Paranoá.
Serrinha was one of the main themes presented during the event. The region brings together springs, aquifer recharge areas, and native vegetation and is at the center of debates about territorial occupation and land regularization. The territory also gained prominence recently indiscussions involving financial aid attempts for the Bank of Brasília (BRB).Environmental movements worked to remove an area from Serrinha from a proposal related to the financial institution.
Lúcia Mendes highlighted that preserving these areas is directly related to the Federal District's ability to face extreme climate events. "When we destroy Serrinha, we are not just destroying trees. We are destroying water, reducing our capacity to face droughts, heat, and extreme climate events. This logic needs to change. We cannot continue treating environmentally strategic areas as if they were available for subdivisions and occupations," the coordinator stated.
Regularize to Preserve
The relationship between land regularization and environmental protection was also highlighted by the organizations. Poema Mühlenberg, multi-artist, acrobat, and environmental activist, is the founder and coordinator of Galpão Bambu, a creation and research space located in Serrinha do Paranoá.Serrinha do ParanoáAt the event, she represented the Association Serrinha do Paranoá, which brings together communities from the nine creeks in the region.
Poema delivered to the candidates a commitment letter to the region and argued that land regularization should be accompanied by environmental protection. "Serrinha is not a green area, it is a strategic territory for Brasília. Its springs, its creeks, its areas of recharge of the Cerrado, and its productive areas are directly linked to the water, climate, and food security of the Federal District and to the protection of Lake Paranoá," she emphasized.
In defending the regularization of communities, Poema noted that the process must consider the preservation of natural areas. "Regularize, yes, but regularize to preserve. We want a public policy that recognizes the reality of the communities, guarantees their rights and infrastructure, but also protects the springs, the Cerrado, soil permeability, and recharge areas."
Environment and commitments for water
For Pedro Ivo, from the Alternativa Terrazul Association, the environmental agenda needs to stop being treated as a campaign commitment and become a permanent public policy. During the meeting, he presented a document drafted by civil society organizations related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
"The first issue is how we defend the environment as strategic and transform it into a state public policy, not just a government one. There are mechanisms to implement it, and we want candidates to commit to this public policy," he emphasized.
The Ecumenic Water Network presented a letter with seven commitments that the candidates were called upon to assume. These include strengthening water protection legislation, preserving springs and watersheds, universalizing access to water and sanitation, combating pollution, addressing climate change, promoting social participation in management, and ensuring budgetary resources.
Salete Aquino, a representative of the Ecumenic Water Network, stated that the protection of water resources should be a central focus in public policies.
Water is a right, not a commodity, and this needs to be a commitment from the candidates. We want to strengthen water protection legislation, protect springs and watersheds, universalize access to water and sanitation, combat pollution, address climate change, value participatory management, and ensure budgetary resources.
Candidates present actions
Among the candidates for the Federal District government, Paula Belmonte was the only one present at the event. The deputy highlighted her work on the Inquiry Commission (CPI) of Rio Melchior, conducted by the Legislative Assembly of the Federal District (CLDF).Inquiry Commission (CPI) of Rio MelchiorHe advocated for changes in the classification of water courses.
"We took the Legislative Chamber to discuss the classification of our rivers and the Melchior River. The union of civil society with the Legislative Chamber managed to change the perspective on the river, and today the Public Ministry is investigating based on the CPI report," he stated.
The candidate also linked land regularization to environmental preservation and advocated for actions against real estate speculation. "Regularizing is preserving. We need to combat real estate speculation, but also ensure quality housing for people. We must preserve the environment and look at those who live in territories still lacking basic services," she emphasized.
District Deputy Fábio Félix (Psol), a candidate for federal deputy, also mentioned environmental mobilizations in the Federal District. According to him, the results achieved in territorial disputes are a consequence of the organization of the movements. "The defeat of the construction of the thermoelectric plant did not happen by the hand of one person. It was a collective action of the movement, which was fundamental for this to happen. The mobilization of the community and the environmental movement in the Federal District were decisive in this process," he stated.
The parliamentarian also mentioned the mobilization in defense of Serrinha do Paranoá and highlighted the role of popular organization in the decisions made by the Legislative.
Campaigning shares space with debate
Despite the meeting having been called for organizations to present their claims regarding the candidacies, during part of the presentations, candidates and parliamentarians present stayed outside the main space, where they distributed pamphlets and conducted campaign activities.
For Lúcia Mendes, the demand from organizations should go beyond including environmental proposals in government programs. "It's not enough to put the environment in a government program. We need to take public commitments with goals, budget, supervision, and a schedule. We need to protect water-producing areas, preserve springs and recharge zones, prevent the destruction of the Cerrado, and prepare Brasília for climate events," she demanded.
The need to prepare the capital for extreme events gained a recent example. The incident took place three days after aSevere weather hit the Federal District, leaving 117 people affected, 56 homes with damaged roofs, and 15 properties evacuated, according to a survey by the Civil Defense..
For the Forum, episodes like this reinforce the need to discuss climate adaptation, urban planning, and environmental preservation during the elections.
"Water cannot be a campaign promise; water is a right. Climate cannot be a secondary issue. Climate is water security, it is health, it is economy, it is territory, and it is life. We want to know what commitments the candidates are willing to make to protect water and the people of the Federal District," Lúcia Mendes emphasized.
Organizations that support the message
The letter presented at the event gathers the support of organizations, movements, associations, forums, unions, and institutions working in various areas of the social and environmental agenda of the Federal District.
- Planaltine Academy of Letters, Arts and Sciences
- Walking – The People's Movement
- Terrazul Alternative Association
- Veredas Friends Association (Amiver)
- Brazilian Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Association – Federal District Section (ABES-DF)
- Crispim Gama Creek Association
- Lake West Rural Producers Association (Asproeste)
- Urubu Creek Rural Community Chacareiros Association (ANRU)
- Arem Aede Indigenous Association (Ajaeda)
- Sobradinho Waters Women's Association (AMAS)
- Serrinha Preservation Association
- Rural Producers Association CAUB 1
- Canela de Ema Volunteer Brigade
- International Water and Transdisciplinarity Center (CIRAT)
- Paranaíba-DF Basin Committee
- Asa Sul Community Council
- Lake South Community Council (CCLS)
- Indigenous Council of the Federal District (CIDF)
- Cooperative of Organic Market Producers of Brasília (Cooperorg)
- Tree School
- We in the Bamboo School
- Pro-Nature Foundation (Funatura)
- Brazilian Forum of NGOs and Social Movements for Environment and Development (FBOMS)
- Defense Forum of Waters, Climate, and Environment of the Federal District
- Environmentalist NGOs Forum of the DF
- Forum on Climate Change and Socio-Environmental Justice (FMCS)
- Permanent Forum in Defense of Guará Park
- Bamboo Gallery - Creation Space
- Guardians of Clean Waters (GAE)
- Canela de Ema Institute (ICEMA)
- Cerrados Institute
- Flumina Institute
- Arayra International Institute
- Oca do Sol Institute
- Sálvia Institute
- Ipanema Agroecology
- Youth for Climate
- Altiplano Rural Movement (MAR)
- Caminhos do Planalto Central Movement (CPC)
- Diálogos da ARIE Granja do Ipê Movement
- Regenerative Movement: Time to Plant
- Save ARIE JK Movement
- Save Rio Melchior Movement
- Life and Water for ARIS (MVA) Movement
- Luciano Mendes de Almeida National Observatory for Socio-Environmental Justice (OLMA)
- North Peninsula Community Municipality (PCPN)
- Ecumenic Water Network (REDA)
- Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists Union (Sinfito-DF)
- Union of Workers in Water and Sanitation Systems in the Federal District (Sindágua)
- Earth Charter Brazil Web (TEIA)
- Global Union (Unipaz-DF)
Support popular communication in the Federal District:
Make a contribution via Pix and help maintain independent regional journalism. Donate to[email protected]
Follow ourInstagram profileStay updated with the news from the region.
Join our WhatsApp channel.Send a message to our WhatsApp number.Follow the updates on our WhatsApp channel.
Suggest a news story about the Federal District through the BdF DF WhatsApp number: 61 98304–0102.WhatsApp number of BdF DF: 61 98304–0102