Climate change has made the low-carbon economy an unquestionable demand. However, if the reduction of atmospheric emissions and the change in the global energy paradigm represent business opportunities, they also bring financial challenges for companies, governments and social organizations around the world.
In order to discuss possibilities and difficulties in the decarbonization process, CEBDS promoted, this Wednesday (17/7), the panel “Energy transition and carbon pricing”. The event was supported by Siemens and attracted an audience of around 70 people, including executives, representatives of public authorities and civil society.
Presented by the president and CEO of Siemens Brazil, André Clark, and moderated by the president of CEBDS, Marina Grossi, the debate brought together the COO and CTO of Siemens AG, Roland Busch; the Executive Director of the Climate and Society Institute (ICS), Ana Toni; Braskem's Energy Director, Gustavo Checcucci; and the president of the Energy Research Company (EPE), Thiago Barral.
Low carbon economy
Debaters presented their views on the speed of the global energy transition and models for pricing carbon emissions. For Busch, from Siemens AG, in addition to being a necessity, the low-carbon economy is an excellent business case, but only correct carbon pricing is capable of bringing about real economic changes. Checcucci, from Braskem, claimed the correct valuation of “green” products, as well as renewable energy contracts for large energy consumers.
Analyzing the Brazilian situation, Toni, from ICS, pointed out that the abundance and diversity of energy sources in the country bring advantages and disadvantages and that it is necessary to define public policies for decarbonization. And Barral, from EPE, reinforced the need to unify the varied demands involved in the energy transition, especially to combine decarbonization and economic and social development.
The paths are indeed diverse. However, the debaters made clear the urgency of expanding actions in search of a decarbonized economy. To achieve this, it is essential to have more audacious and coordinated planning that brings together the different agents involved in the energy transition process.
