Electrifying transport and industry could reduce Brazilian emissions by up to 18%, study shows
In Belém, guests from Abradee, an association representing energy distributors, discussed the energy transition and the challenges facing the recurrence of extreme events
Belém (PA) – The 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) was officially opening on November 10th in the capital of Pará state, when news of tornadoes that simultaneously struck cities in Paraná and Santa Catarina the previous weekend was still reverberating. The Paraná municipality of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu had approximately 90% of its properties destroyed. This tragedy, which caused seven deaths, injured more than 400 people, and caused numerous material losses, was recalled during debates promoted by the Brazilian Association of Electric Energy Distribution Companies (Abradee), where executives and guests discussed the study “Electric Sector Coalition: Clean, Competitive and Resilient Energy to Transform Brazil.” Among other results, this survey indicated that Brazil could reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by up to 18% through the electrification of sectors such as transportation and industry.
Led by the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (Cebds), with technical support from the PSR organization, the study mobilized more than 70 entities around debates about the Brazilian energy future, considering the challenges related to the climate crisis and the global demand for a just transition in generation and distribution processes.
When debating the study’s results at the forum “The role of the energy distribution segment in the energy transition,” the president of Cebds, Marina Grossi; the director of Abradee, Ricardo Brandão, among other executives and guests, emphasized that, unlike the international scenario, Brazil has one of the cleanest energy matrices in the world, with about 90% of its sources being renewable. In addition, the energy sector accounts for less than 2% of national emissions, compared to a global average of 30%. These are some of the central messages of the survey conducted by the Coalition, which demonstrates Brazil’s competitiveness in promoting the necessary changes towards decarbonization.
The study also points out that although the country is in a position to lead global energy transition efforts, due to competitive advantages such as an interconnected and reliable electricity grid, renewable resources, and a large and stable consumer market, there are numerous challenges to overcome in this regard. Among these, the need for coherence in the field of Brazilian public policies, efficiency in relation to tariff prices, and resilience to climate change is advocated.
As part of efforts to address extreme events such as storms, tornadoes, cyclones, and others that tend to have an increasing impact on the daily operations of distribution companies, Abradee reported that it has begun producing a study on how to prepare to face this increasingly recurrent scenario in Brazil. The survey began this year and is expected to be completed next year. Through this initiative, the idea is to seek lessons learned by mapping international experiences, listening to experts, and other alternatives in order to provide a basis for future decision-making processes in the sector.
This report was produced by ((oeco)), through the Collaborative Socio-environmental Coverage of COP 30. Read the original report at https://oeco.org.br/noticias/eletrificar-transportes-e-industria-pode-reduzir-ate-18-das-emissoes-brasileiras-aponta-estudo/
