Study coordinated by Motiva, CEBDS, CNT and Insper was delivered today to the Federal Government during the event “Brazil Towards COP30”
Sao Paulo, May 12, 2025 – A Coalition for Decarbonizing Transport, an initiative formed by more than 50 sectoral associations, companies and academia, presented today to the federal government a broad plan that proposes a series of measures to reduce by up to 70% the sectoral greenhouse gas emissions forecast for 2050 and attract more than R$600 billion in green investments to Brazil. Based on operational data and technical projections, the document proposes 90 concrete, integrated and measurable actions to consolidate the country as a global leader in sustainable mobility. The official delivery took place this Monday (12/05) during the event “Brazil Towards COP30”, in Brasília.
The objective of the work, which was the result of an invitation from the ambassador and president of COP30, André Corrêa do Lago, to mobilize the sector, is to offer the federal government a set of proposals to support the formulation of the National Plan on Climate Change, to be presented at COP30, in Belém (PA). The initiative is led by Motiva (the new name of the CCR Group), the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), the National Confederation of Transportation (CNT) and the National Observatory of Sustainable Mobility, of Insper, with contributions from companies and associations in the road, rail, air, waterway, waterway, urban mobility and infrastructure segments.
“We are in the decade of implementation and joining forces is essential. The Transport Coalition shows that it is possible to align different actors around a common decarbonization agenda, focusing on the challenges and opportunities of the sector in Brazil. In record time, we brought together more than 50 associations and companies in a consensual plan, which reinforces the strategic role of companies in tackling the global climate crisis”, says CEBDS president Marina Grossi.
Currently, the transportation sector in Brazil is responsible for 11% of national emissions, which represents the emission of 260 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO₂e). In a scenario of inaction, in which no decarbonization measures are adopted, projections indicate that this number could jump to 424 MtCO₂e by 2050. With the implementation of the measures proposed by the Transportation Coalition, it will be possible to reduce the transportation sector's footprint by 70%, to 137 MtCO₂e, avoiding the release of 287 MtCO₂e. For comparison purposes, this volume is equivalent to planting 13.67 billion trees or removing approximately 62.4 million passenger vehicles from the streets.
“The climate emergency requires coordinated action between the government, private sector and civil society. It is a challenge that should mobilize everyone. The transport sector in Brazil represents more than 10 percent of the country’s global emissions. This study by the transport coalition shows that there are three main levers to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint, which include changing the logistics matrix mix, large-scale electrification of fleets and expanding the use of biofuels. It is an agenda of sustainability, but above all of economic and social development as well. Motiva will continue to be deeply committed to improving people’s lives through sustainable mobility,” says Motiva’s CEO, Miguel Setas.
Critical initiatives
The plan drawn up by the Coalition indicates that the implementation of three major initiatives would reduce transport sector emissions by 60% compared to the inaction scenario for 2050. The main contribution comes from the expansion of the fleet of electric and/or hybrid vehicles, with the potential to eliminate 145 MtCO₂e of greenhouse gases, given that the Brazilian electricity matrix is made up of approximately 80% from clean sources. This scenario assumes the electrification of 50% of passenger cars and 300,000 buses by 2050, considering technologies that are currently commercially viable – for this reason, the study does not account for the positive impact of electrified trucks on reducing emissions.
To make large-scale electrification feasible, the plan indicates that one of the necessary actions is the implementation of a broad vehicle charging infrastructure. The work estimates that, on this front alone, the country will require investments of around R$40 billion to install between 990,000 and 1.9 million charging points, aiming to meet the demand of the future electric and/or hybrid fleet in circulation on Brazilian streets and highways.
The second main contribution comes from the rebalancing of the freight transportation matrix, with an increase in the share of rail and waterway transport from the current 31% to 55% by the end of 2050. Despite the loss of representation in the period, the plan projects a growth of 18% in the volume of freight transported via highways, with the prospect of faster growth in private concessions. The plan indicates that the change in the profile of the matrix has the potential to avoid the emission of 65 MtCO₂e in the period, compared to the inaction scenario predicted for 2050.
When analyzing the outlook for the railway sector, the plan points to the potential to double the share of this mode in the transport matrix, from the current 16% to 32%. To achieve this, investments of over R$270 billion are required to expand the network and introduce more sustainable and efficient technologies, such as hybridization of locomotives, the use of green diesel and the adoption of intelligent railway operation systems.
The third major contribution comes from the increased use of biofuels in the different modes of transport that make up the transport matrix. The plan indicates that the increased use of ethanol, green diesel, biomethane, SAF (Sustainable Aviation Fuel) and synthetic fuels would prevent the emission of 45 MtCO₂e. To achieve this volume, the demand for biofuels is expected to increase from the current 30 billion liters to 55 billion by 2050, which has the potential to attract R$225 billion in green investments to Brazil.
The use of biofuels has strong potential to reduce emissions from road transport, by offering an economically viable option for heavy vehicles that currently depend on fossil fuels, and from the aviation sector, with the expansion of the use of SAF and synthetic fuels. The study indicates that SAF consumption in Brazil could reach 1.1 billion liters in 2050, representing 22% of the energy matrix of the air transport sector. In addition, it is expected that 11% of aircraft will be flying with synthetic fuels.
“The energy transition in transportation requires a multifaceted approach that respects local realities and ensures the technical viability of each solution. In the case of biofuels, for example, it is essential that any percentage of adoption be preceded by rigorous testing, ensuring safety and compatibility with operating conditions,” says CNT president Vander Costa.
The plan also highlighted several actions to promote the decarbonization of urban mobility, which accounts for 45% of emissions in cities. The work organizes 21 levers on three main fronts: 1) avoiding large displacements with solutions such as urban densification and route optimization; 2) encouraging migration to more sustainable modes, such as public transport, bicycles and the subway; and 3) improving the energy efficiency of services, with fleet electrification, tariff integration and the creation of low-emission zones.
The aim of these proposals is to encourage the expansion of public passenger transport (including buses, subways and urban trains), complemented by active mobility and micromobility for short distances, replacing the individual motorized model that predominates in the main Brazilian cities. To promote a more sustainable urban mobility system, an investment of R$1.4T 53 billion is expected, as provided for in the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC).
“The work of the coalition in favor of decarbonizing transportation demonstrates the capacity that civil society, when it wants to, can exert to achieve social and environmental goals. More than 50 organizations from the transportation sector, through a herculean effort of commitment, research, and dedication, managed to outline a clear, precise, and, above all, feasible route for decarbonizing the sector by 2050. This is a significant contribution that the private sector is making to COP30 and to the Brazilian government so that negotiations are effective and result in commitments that, at the end of the day, allow the construction of transportation with clean, efficient, sustainable, and inclusive energy,” says the coordinator of the National Observatory for Sustainable Mobility, Sérgio Avelleda.
About the Transport Decarbonization Coalition
A Transport Coalition is a multi-stakeholder initiative launched in 2024, which brings together more than 50 public, private, academic and civil society organizations. Led by Motiva, CEBDS, CNT and the Insper's National Observatory of Sustainable Mobility, the Coalition aims to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more efficient and integrated transport system, contributing with technical and strategic solutions for the new National Plan on Climate Change. Structured in six fronts – road, rail, waterway, air, urban mobility and transversal infrastructure – the initiative proposes a systemic and evidence-based approach to reduce emissions, stimulate innovation and strengthen Brazil's role as a global leader in the climate agenda towards COP30.
About Motiva: The largest mobility infrastructure company in Brazil, Motiva operates on the Highways, Rails and Airports platforms. It has 39 assets in 13 Brazilian states and more than 17 thousand employees. The Company is responsible for the management and maintenance of 4,475 kilometers of highways, providing approximately 3.6 thousand services daily. On its rail platform, through the management of subways, trains and VLT, it transports 750 million passengers annually. In airports, with 17 units in Brazil and three abroad, it serves approximately 43 million customers annually. The first company in Brazil to join the Novo Mercado, the Company has been listed in the B3 sustainability hall for 14 years.
About CEBDS: The Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) is a non-profit civil association that has been promoting sustainable development in Brazil since 1997, through partnerships with governments and civil society, in addition to disseminating the most current concepts and practices on the subject. The voice of the business sector, CEBDS brings together 120 of the largest business groups in the country, in addition to being the Brazilian representative of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), which is present in 36 countries and has 200 member companies worldwide.
About CNT: The Confederation is the highest representation of Brazilian transportation. The institution brings together 29 federations and 5 national unions and 25 associated entities. There are more than 191 thousand companies and 2.7 million jobs generated. As part of the Transportation System, the institution also manages SEST SENAT (Social Service of Transportation and National Service of Transportation Training) and ITL (Institute of Transportation and Logistics). The Transportation System's activities are based on actions that seek to ensure more investments for the Brazilian transportation sector and strengthen the necessary foundations so that transportation activities can be carried out efficiently and safely, in order to promote Brazil's socioeconomic development.
About the National Observatory of Sustainable Mobility: The Observatory was created in September 2023, consisting of an initiative of the Center for City Studies – Arq.Futuro Laboratory of Insper in partnership with the CCR Institute, from Motiva, with the objective of collecting data from public and private sources, managing this data and producing consistent research, articles and reports that are useful for decision makers in the mobility ecosystem in Brazil.
Press information
Motiva
FSB Communication
CEBDS
Débora Almeida – Approach Communication
(21) 99417-8545
cebds@approach.com.br
CNT
imprensa@cnt.org.br
National Observatory of Sustainable Mobility
Damaris Rota – 11 97464-2896
assessoriadeimprensa@insper.edu.br
InPress Porter Novelli
insper@inpresspni.com.br
Eric Fujita – 11 99150-2253
Robson Bertolino – 11 98261-8081
Roger Gama – 11 99902-9772
Vinicius Vilas Boas – 11 95093-4951
