Climate, Energy and Sustainable Finance, Institutional

Brazil: protagonist of the transition of international transport

Posted in 08/07/2025

Experts discuss at a seminar how to transform comparative advantages into competitive advantages in the sustainable biofuels sector

Brazil has clear comparative advantages in the production of sustainable biofuels, with large availability of raw materials, know-how in the sector and favorable geographic conditions. The great challenge, however, is to transform these comparative advantages into competitive advantages in the international transportation market. This was one of the central themes of the seminar "Sustainable Biofuels for International Transportation – Aligning Real Opportunities with Global Policies," held in Rio de Janeiro this Monday (July 7th). The event highlighted the importance of the country overcoming trade, regulatory, and methodological barriers, such as land use quantification and double counting of sustainability credits, to ensure that Brazilian biofuels are competitive and accepted in global markets.

Experts and business leaders discussed during the meeting how Brazil can advance in the decarbonization of international transport, proposing innovative solutions to challenges such as expanding experience with the system. Book and Claim and the creation of robust regulations to ensure investment. The event also emphasized that for the country to assume a leading role in the global biofuels market, a coordinated effort between the government, academia, and the private sector is necessary. With adequate investment and strategic partnerships, Brazil can not only supply raw materials but also commercialize sustainable finished fuels for large-scale air and maritime transportation.

The seminar was organized by Instituto Clima e Sociedade (iCS), Amcham Brazil (American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil), Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), Brazil China Business Council (CEBC) and Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI). Over five panels, the speakers highlighted the urgent challenge facing the international air and maritime transportation sector to decarbonize its operations. According to the International Energy Agency, with 2024 data, demand for sustainable biofuels is expected to double by 2030.

As the world's second-largest producer, with technology, a favorable climate, and significant potential for sector expansion, Brazil has the opportunity to contribute to leveraging and accelerating this transition globally. The meeting brought together diverse representatives from the sector's production chain—from technology developers and raw material producers to end users, such as shipping and aviation companies. This connection enables the development of alliances and architectures that support the agenda in key international forums.

Joint statement

At the end of the event, the “Joint Declaration for Sustainable Biofuels as a Solution for the Decarbonization of International Transport", signed by iCS, Amcham, CEBDS, and CEBC. The document highlights the opportunities, benefits, and impacts of the biofuels agenda, as well as recommending guidelines for an international agenda.

The declaration was delivered to the Special Envoy for Energy to COP30, Elbia Gannoum; the Special Envoy for Agriculture to COP30, Roberto Rodrigues; the Special Envoy for the Business Sector to COP30, Marina Grossi, and the Deputy Director of the Department of Mitigation Policy and Implementation Instruments of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Leandro Gomes Cardoso.

Quotes from the organizations' spokespersons:

“For international transport to truly achieve its decarbonization goals, it is essential to consider sustainable biofuels as a legitimate solution, one that aligns competitiveness with robust sustainability criteria, value addition, and the creation of skilled jobs in new technology-intensive chains,” stated the executive director of iCS, Maria Netto.

“Brazil has the key assets to lead the decarbonization of international transport with sustainable biofuels: innovative companies, technical expertise, technological mastery and favorable natural conditions,” he said. Abrao Neto, president of Amcham Brazil.

"CEBDS has proposed concrete solutions for decarbonization, such as the Transport Coalition, which we presented to the COP30 president in May. We brought together more than 50 organizations and mapped 90 levers with the potential to reduce the sector's emissions by up to 70%. Among the main paths is the expansion of biofuels. On the eve of the COP, we demonstrated that Brazil can lead with action, scale, and collaboration." said Marina Grossi, president of CEBDS.

"Building a solid agenda for sustainable biofuels in international transportation necessarily involves strengthening partnerships with strategic countries—and China plays a central role in this effort. Brazil and China have complementary capabilities: on the one hand, Brazil offers scale, natural resources, and technology; on the other, China is advancing in the implementation of decarbonization policies and industrial innovation. This event is an important step in positioning Brazil as a reliable partner for China in the global energy transition," he assessed. Claudia Trevisan, Executive Director of CEBC.

"The climate debate today is about development. This must be the legacy of Belém. Brazil offers an agenda of solutions for the world, and biofuels are an example of this. In a geopolitical scenario of conflict and uncertainty, our position as a nation that prioritizes peace will be key in the ongoing climate transition," he stated. Izabella Teixeira, CEBRI Advisory and International Advisor.