Brazil can become a regional and global leader in the prevention of natural disasters, which due to climate change are becoming more frequent and extreme across the planet, says Mami Mizutori, United Nations representative for disaster risk reduction. Mizutori calls on governments to stop "just responding' to extreme weather events" and "put more importance" on disaster prevention. In the past three years, the South American giant has experienced severe floods, droughts, heat waves, and fires, which have forced government authorities, the scientific community, and prevention organizations to coordinate their work more closely. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES