Business leaders presented their contributions to the implementation of the Paris Agreement in Brazil to Environment Minister José Sarney Filho and members of parliament. The proposals aim to boost financing for renewable energy and improve energy efficiency in the country. The meeting, attended by approximately 150 people representing dozens of business groups and civil society organizations, took place this Wednesday (24) during a breakfast meeting at the Chamber of Deputies in Brasília, Federal District.
The coordinator of the Environmental Parliamentary Front (FPA), Federal Representative Ricardo Tripoli, highlighted that the National Congress's ratification of the Paris Agreement was one of the fastest he has ever seen move through the House. "This demonstrates the Legislative Branch's commitment to the agenda," he stated.
Marina Grossi, president of the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), congratulated the parliamentarians on the swift processing of the agreement and emphasized that the country also needs to act quickly to achieve the goals it has set. "The challenge now is to implement concrete actions, and with the urgency with which they must be implemented. The companies here are committed to the goals, bringing viable proposals. We hope this will be the first in a series of meetings," she emphasized.
Minister Sarney Filho assured continued dialogue aimed at developing an action plan. "Changing consumption and production patterns will only happen with the support of the business community, and it is within this perspective that the ministry positions itself as a partner in development processes. We understand that development is a partner of the environment, not an antagonist," he concluded.
Proposals
The proposals formulated by CEDBS Leaders Council were presented by the president and CEO of General Electric Brazil, Gilberto Peralta; by the CEO of Siemens Brazil, Paulo Stark; and by the executive superintendent of Santander, Linda Murasawa. The contributions are part of the studies Renewable Energy Financing: Obstacles, Challenges and Opportunities It is Efficient Consumption of Electric Energy: An Agenda for Brazil.
Gilberto Peralta emphasized that the contributions presented are based on existing technologies and regulatory experiences, capable of preventing Brazil from losing the equivalent of half of the energy generated at Itaipu each year.
Among the commitments made by Brazil at COP21, through its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (iNDC), is an improvement in electrical efficiency of 10% by 2030. Business leaders, however, believe this target can be exceeded, reaching 20% of energy conservation in the same period. To this end, studies indicate measures to be taken by industry, commerce, homes, public roads, among others, with an emphasis on the use of technologies based on high-efficiency electric motors and LED lighting. Tariff incentives and further investigation by the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) into waste in the generation and transmission segments are also proposed.
Paulo Stark and Linda Murasawa said their studies identified the barriers faced by eco-sustainable projects seeking funding, suggesting some solutions. "We wanted to know why this isn't progressing if the technology is available and if it's viable.
