Brazilian Industry Resumption Plan proposes investments in decarbonization

The elements around us, when they react, are not lost: they are transformed into others so that these elements still remain differently once they are rearranged. This is the logic of the Law of Conservation of Mass enunciated by the French scientist Antoine Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794), famous for the phrase “Nothing is created in nature, nothing is lost, everything is transformed”.

That’s what happens during the carbon cycle: a carbon atom can spend millions of years in coal, before being burned in a power plant and releasing harmful carbon-based compounds that persist in the atmosphere for decades – like CO² gases – to be absorbed by the ocean, trees or agricultural crops and eventually be consumed by humans and released back into the atmosphere, for new trajectories.

But reducing carbon emissions into the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide (CO²), is one of the goals of the Brazilian industry. The main objective of decarbonization is to achieve a global economy, with reduced emissions from the diversification of the energy matrix by cleaner energy sources.

Opening the market for products and services that are in line with these premises and with more sustainable processes that have less impact on the environment in the various industrial sectors is also essential.
Among the crucial strategies for implementing decarbonization, some are long-term, as Flávio de Queiroz, professor of Civil Engineering at the University Center of Brasília, explains.

“In general, investment in technology to generate both energy and sustainable and renewable fuels is what will be needed and what the industry is looking for. Some examples: the use of biofuels and second and third generation ethanol in any segment that needs engines. Wind photovoltaic energy in power generation and distribution and, more recently, green hydrogen and even blue hydrogen are some of the actions that are ongoing and ongoing in the national industry segment”, he points out.

Decarbonization: Challenges and Opportunities

The decarbonization of the economy is one of the missions of the Industry Resumption Plan, presented by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI) to the Brazilian government. The proposal has four axes of industrial policies for the resumption of the country’s growth, they are: decarbonization, digital transformation, health and health security and defense and national security.

In addition to the environmental benefits, decarbonization generates business opportunities for a new economy, as explained by the executive manager of Environment and Sustainability at CNI, Davi Bomtempo.

“It is a new way of producing, a new way of consuming different value chains, so all of this will generate jobs, will generate income, will generate revenue, regional development and, of course, will cover the three spheres of sustainability: first, taking care of the environment by reducing emissions and the sustainable consumption of natural resources. Second, it will contemplate the social aspect, generating employment and income. And the economic one, because it will generate wealth for Brazil. The country has the potential to position itself as a major player and be very competitive when it comes to the international market”, he says.

However, in order to implement the decarbonization of Brazilian industry, it is necessary to overcome some barriers. Bomtempo highlights four challenges.
“Public policies, that is, we need to develop the legal framework so that we can operate with legal certainty and confidence. A strong funding agenda as well, that is, how to finance this transition. We also have a line of education and training, that is, how these workers will develop and be able to receive this new economy. And other topics related to technology and innovation that Brazil needs to absorb and, therefore, be more competitive”, he concludes.