• Extreme weather in Rio de Janeiro is getting worse: recent years have brought record-breaking heat and rainfall to Brazil’s second-largest city, intensifying the risk of floods and landslides, particularly in vulnerable urban areas.
• Experts warn of “climate gentrification,” where urban development and inequality amplify disaster risk; more than 20% of Rio’s homes are in high-risk areas, many in precariously built communities on hill slopes or low-lying flood zones.
• Disaster prevention measures exist but fall short; while sirens provide some early warnings, experts stress the need for comprehensive urban reform, nature-based solutions like the “sponge city” design, and greater community involvement to truly mitigate risks.

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