Carlos Nobre, a global reference in climate change, is diagnosed with ALS

The information was confirmed to g1 by the family and the climatologist's team this Thursday (12).

The diagnosis was announced by the president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aloizio Mercadante, during an event at COP31, the UN climate conference held in Antalya, Turkey, in the presence of President Lula and First Lady Janja.

On the occasion, Mercadante paid tribute to the Brazilian scientist, internationally recognized for his research on the Amazon and the impacts of global warming.

ALS is a rare, progressive and incurable neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements.

Nobre is one of the most internationally recognized Brazilian scientists. He was responsible for formulating the hypothesis of the "savannization" of the Amazon, which warns of the risk of the forest losing its characteristics due to deforestation and climate change.

In 2022, he was elected a member of the Royal Society, one of the most prestigious scientific institutions in the world.

In March of this year, he was appointed by Pope Leo XIV to join a Vatican council dedicated to human development.

Nobre is an electronics engineer with a degree from the Aeronautical Technological Institute (ITA) and a PhD in meteorology from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Since the beginning of his career at the National Institute for Space Research, in 1983, he has been at the forefront of studies on the Amazon.

He formulated the hypothesis of the "savannization" of the forest in response to deforestation and has dedicated his life to studies on how global warming can influence the tropical forest. With the theme, he became known worldwide.

This is the second global social recognition that Nobre has received. In 2022 he was elected member of the Royal Society -- the first Brazilian to hold the title since the 19th century.