SAO PAULO, Aug 18 (Reuters) – Brazil’s government
expects Congress to approve a series of energy
transition-related bills in the next 100 days that it believes
will boost the country’s decarbonization credentials at the
upcoming COP28 climate summit, an official told Reuters on
Friday.
Rodrigo Rollemberg, a secretary at Brazil’s development
ministry, said in an interview that the package of bills are set
to include projects aimed at increasing the use of renewable
fuels and regulating related sectors, such as offshore wind
farms.
That would allow the South American country to strengthen
its “green” commitment as nations from all over the world
prepare to gather in November and December in Dubai for yearly
climate talks held by the United Nations.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who took office in
January, has staked his international reputation on reversing
environmental backsliding under his far-right predecessor Jair
Bolsonaro, when Amazon deforestation soared.
Lula has pledged to halt illegal deforestation in the Amazon
rainforest by 2030 and help drive an ecological transition led
by renewable energy.
Rollemberg said the government-sponsored bills would be
focused on four main topics: establishing a new carbon market,
regulating offshore wind power, launching the “Fuel of the
Future” project and regulating green hydrogen.
“They are all separate bills, but when put together there is
a convergence towards sustainability that gives them economic
support they otherwise would not have,” Rollemberg said.
The “Fuel of the Future” project, the secretary noted, would
look to stimulate production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)
in Brazil, which Boeing recently touted as a potential
top player in the sector.
The government expects to encourage the use of degraded
farmland to drive SAF output. Other proposals include raising
the required ethanol blending into gasoline to 30% from the
current 27%, Rollemberg said.
One of the most advanced proposals, he added, is the one
that would create a regulated carbon market in the country. That
bill might be submitted to Congress as early as next week, the
secretary said.
“We have 100 days until COP28. It’s more than enough time
for Congress to pass all the bills,” Rollemberg said.
“Brazil has a unique opportunity in the second half to
finish the year giving out very strong signals to domestic and
international markets that it is the country that really intends
to lead the transition to a green and low-carbon economy.”
The South American nation is set to host the U.N. climate
talks in 2025 in the Amazonian town of Belem.
(Reporting by Leticia Fucuchima; Writing by Gabriel Araujo
Editing by Marguerita Choy)
