Brazil energy minister Marina Silva said that the country is aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 67pc by 2035, compared with 2005 levels, but has failed to explain how oil exploration and production fits in the new ambition.
Silva explained today that the country is aiming to reach the top end of its 59-67pc range by 2035, which was shared last week before the UN Cop 29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. The announcement had raised some doubts from climate experts about Brazil's ambition under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) — climate plan.
Silva said today that the range is to account for potential elements that could impact the country's climate plan, such as inflation. "We are focused on having absolute emissions of 850mn CO2e [by 2035]," she said today. "We encourage other countries to having equally ambitious goals."
Brazil's new NDC is much more than a figure, Silva said. She described it as a "new paradigm for the social and economic development" of the country.
She failed to explain what the new climate goal would mean for oil exploration and production in the country, and Brazil's vice-president Geraldo Ackmin highlighted the potential of Brazil's biofuels industry instead. "Around 85pc of Brazil's fleet is running on flexible engine cars using ethanol," he said. He pointed out to Brazil's potential to lead in sustainable aviation fuels and green hydrogen production thanks to its abundant feedstocks.
Responding to Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev comments that oil and gas is a "gift of god", Silva said that "gods does give us gifts and we should take them with moderation." "If we have too much sugar we will be diabetic," she said.
Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said that the new NDC is not in line with limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Brazilian climate think tank Observatorio do Clima criticised the government for not increasing its targets for 2030 and for its failure to announce a plan to end the expansion of fossil fuel production. Oil Change International reiterated that Brazil's goal of being on the "forefront of the global energy transition" is incompatible with its plants to increase oil production over the next decade.
Money in trillions
Commenting on climate finance negotiations, Silva said that developed economies need to increase their efforts towards delivering financing support to developing countries, and that money needs to be "in trillions". "It is not happening at the speed needed," she added.
Cop parties must agree at Cop 29 on a new collective quantified goal (NCQG) — the new finance goal — building on the current $100bn/yr target that developed countries agreed to deliver to developing countries over 2020-25.
Brazil's secretary for climate, energy and environment Andre Correa said that developing countries are already frustrated by the fact that the $100bn/yr target was missed. Developed nations surpassed the goal by $15.9bn in 2022, but it was missed in 2020 and 2021, according to the OECD. Some developing countries say it has never been met.
Developed countries are calling for a broadening of the contributor base, to include nations whose economic circumstances have changed since the UNFCCC was established in 1992. But Correa said that it would not be fair for rich nations to expect that developing economies contribute in the next finance goal as it is not under the rules of the Paris Agreement. "The discussion has been deviated," he said. "Taking into account that developed countries did not achieve the first attempt, it is reasonable to not ask developing economies to pay."
