Brazil promises to eliminate deforestation by 2028 and reduce 50% of emissions by 2030

The Minister of the Environment, Joaquim Leite, announced this Monday (1) new climate goals: Brazil will eliminate illegal deforestation by 2028 and reduce polluting gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

The statement was made at the opening of Brazilian participation in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP26, which began last Sunday (31) and continues until the 12th in Glasgow, Scotland.

The announcement brought forward the previously established goals. “Brazil’s contributions to overcoming the challenge are in place. There will be no lack of commitment from the federal government to reach a positive result. Today we present a new, more ambitious climate target, going from 43% to 50% by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2050”, said Leite.

According to the minister, the conference marks “a transition from the debate on climate promises to the creation of green jobs”. “We held previous bilateral meetings with more than 60 countries, acting as a coordinating country, seeking dialogue and points of convergence. We also conducted dozens of technical meetings, collecting input that culminated in a negotiation strategy to defend the national interest and position Brazil as a fundamental country in this new global green agenda”, he said.

“In combating climate change, we are part of the solution and not the problem,” said Jair Bolsonaro in a video sent to be shown at the Conference. The president is not present at the summit and left the Brazilian delegation under the command of Leite.

“We have to act responsibly, seeking real solutions for an urgent transition. […] The results achieved by our country until 2020 demonstrate that we can be even more ambitious”, he added.

The Brazilian government seeks to convince other world leaders of the seriousness of the stipulated goals, as it is heavily criticized for its environmental policies. According to the most recent report from the Climate Observatory, despite the pandemic, the country increased greenhouse gas emissions by 9.5% in 2020. Conversely, during the same period, the world recorded a drop of 7%.

UN calls for priority for renewable technologies

At the opening of COP26, the president of the UN General Assembly (United Nations), Abdulla Shahid, spoke highlighting that “enough has simply not been done”. He called for priority for the use of renewable technologies.

“Firstly, renewable technologies are now among the cheapest on the planet and enjoy strong public support. With the news that climate finance will not reach the promised target of US$ 100 billion annually by 2023, we must accelerate our efforts to ensure that all countries have access to the latest technological innovations.”

Environmentalists want 100% renewable energy by 2040

In parallel to COP26 in Glasgow, discussions about the importance of renewable energy are gaining momentum among environmentalists. Recently, Climate Action Network Europe argued that Europe should invest in solar and wind energy to avoid worsening the consequences of climate change and wants a rapid and sustainable transition by 2040.

“We can and must achieve a 100% renewable energy system by 2040 while meeting environmental and social goals. The total production of exclusively renewable energy by 2035 should be established as a vital goal. Europe has largely untapped domestic potential for renewable energy, which represents an unmissable opportunity,” said Wendel Trio, director of CAN Europe.