Who gains from saving nature
Ledger 1 : 33 — For each dollar financing nature-based solutions in 2023, about $33 financed activities harmful to nature. (UNEP)
Cases / Water use · Brazil · 2020–2021

Rio governor cited sabotage for CEDAE water crisis without evidence

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 2 none on record · 1 insufficient · 1 not measured See the gaps

In January 2020 Rio de Janeiro's governor said he believed the CEDAE water crisis was linked to sabotage, without showing evidence. The utility was sold in a 2021 auction worth 22.69 billion reais, and at stake is the drinking water supply of Rio.

What?
Contaminated water in CEDAE's system in January 2020, and the utility's 2021 sale through a concession auction. A Gazeta
Where?
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil A Gazeta
When?
January 2020 crisis; 2021 auction A Gazeta
Who?
Gained
  • Iguá — Took part in the auction; its partner BNDESPar was a shareholder, which the TCU found problematic CUT / RBA
  • Bottled mineral water sellers in Rio — Sales rose 50 percent after the crisis Money Times
Lost
  • Rio water subscribers — Received water described as contaminated during the crisis A Gazeta
Harmed
None on record
Why?
Not stated in the sources reviewed.
How?
The auction was designed by BNDES, and the TCU found a bidder linked to its subsidiary problematic; the governor pointed to sabotage without evidence. CUT / RBA
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

A Gazeta reported that Governor Wilson Witzel said in January 2020 that he suspected sabotage linked to a tender behind the contaminated water in Rio, and said so without showing evidence.

Money Times reported that mineral water sales in Rio rose 50 percent between December and January after the crisis.

CUT and RBA reported that the 2021 CEDAE auction raised 22.69 billion reais, and that the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) found the participation of Iguá, whose partner BNDESPar was a shareholder, problematic.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • None on record Not reported in the sources reviewed: any police or court finding on the cause of the crisis.
    • Insufficient Reported but not verified: a single testimony that the price of a water jug rose from 8 reais to 20 to 25 reais.
    • None on record Not reported in the sources reviewed: the volume of water affected or the number of people affected.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations✓ Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

    Communities and civil society

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