NGOs and companies expect Brazil to double its commitment to decarbonization at COP30.
São Paulo, Sep 4 (EFEverde).- Environmental NGOs and energy companies expressed their expectation Thursday in São Paulo that Brazil will redouble its commitment to decarbonization and the end of fossil fuels during the next UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), to be held in Belém in November.
Participants in the Third Latin American Green Economy Forum (FLEV), organized by EFE, emphasized that approximately 90% of Brazil's electricity comes from renewable sources, but affirmed that this does not exempt the South American country from further advancing its energy transition.
Furthermore, Suely Araújo, public policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory, expressed confidence that the Brazilian government will reinstate the reference to ending fossil fuels, the main source of polluting emissions, in the COP's final declaration.
Maintain the fossil elimination goalThat reference first appeared at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, but was removed at the last conference in Baku.
"Brazil must lead the negotiation effort and bring some kind of progress to the table, with greater detail regarding the move away from fossil fuels," Araújo said.
However, the activist also pointed out the contradiction that the government hosting COP30 plans to explore oil fields in a maritime area some 500 kilometers from the mouth of the Amazon River, a highly ecologically fragile area.
Former Peruvian minister Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, global leader of Climate and Energy at WWF International, stated that Brazil has the "multilateral capacity" and "ability" to successfully bring the climate negotiations to a successful conclusion.
Pulgar-Vidal considered the objectives of COP30 to be "modest," but that the country can compensate by focusing on the implementation of agreements reached at previous conferences and on the need to involve the private sector.
Likewise , business representatives present at the forum acknowledged that, while governments can create incentives, effective decarbonization will depend on the will of companies and their economic interests.
Companies highlight sustainable solutionsEdson Guimarães, CEO for Latin America at Lots Group, stated that it is now "possible" to transport goods using biofuels at costs similar to those of diesel.
"Leadership needs to come from the private sector because an energy transition in logistics is already possible," he emphasized, noting that Brazil is the sixth-largest emitter of polluting gases in the world in the transportation sector.
On the other hand, Silvia Cabral, director of regulation, marketing, and sustainability at Norte Energia, stated that the global goal of tripling renewable energy by 2030 is "bold," but achievable through strategic investments and infrastructure improvements.
Cabral emphasized the importance of investing in renewable energy storage, improving the electricity transmission grid, and learning from past experiences in environmental licensing.
"We have lessons learned that need to be brought to the table," he stated, highlighting the combination of public policies and private actions as key to advancing the energy transition.
The 3rd FLEV is sponsored by ApexBrasil, Norte Energia, and Lots Group, as well as in collaboration with Imaflora, the Climate Observatory, and IBMEC University, where the event is being held.
jmc/cms/acm
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