Brazil plays a substantial role in global climate dynamics, primarily due to the Amazon rainforest. The country is a significant emitter of greenhouse gases, with emissions from land use changes, agriculture, energy, and industry, totaling over 4% of the annual world total.
Efforts to Reduce Deforestation
Combating deforestation, especially in the Amazon, is a central component of Brazil’s strategy to slow global warming. The government has implemented various measures including enhanced monitoring through satellite surveillance systems like PRODES, which tracks forest loss, and DETER, which provides real-time deforestation alerts. These systems aid in identifying illegal logging and land grabbing activities. Law enforcement actions, such as seizures of illegal timber and closing illicit sawmills, demonstrate a commitment to upholding environmental laws.
The Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm), initiated in 2004, has been instrumental in reducing deforestation rates. This plan integrates territorial and land-use planning with environmental control and monitoring. Brazil has also expanded its network of indigenous reserves and protected areas, which now cover a significant portion of the Amazon forest. These protected lands are crucial for conservation and climate mitigation. Furthermore, multi-stakeholder initiatives like the soy moratorium have contributed to preventing the purchase of soybeans from recently deforested Amazonian land.
Sustainable Practices in Agriculture and Forestry
Beyond halting deforestation, Brazil actively promotes sustainable land management practices in its agricultural and forestry sectors. The Low-Carbon Agriculture Plan (ABC Plan), established in 2010 and updated as ABC+ Plan, offers low-interest loans to farmers adopting sustainable techniques. This plan encourages integrated crop-livestock-forestry (ICLF) systems, which combine different agricultural components to enhance soil health and carbon sequestration. These systems aim to recover degraded pasture areas and increase efficiency in land use.
No-till farming, covering approximately 20 million hectares, preserves soil organic matter, reduces erosion, and increases carbon sequestration. Biological nitrogen fixation is also promoted to lower agricultural emissions.
Expansion of Renewable Energy Sources
Brazil has a distinct energy matrix with a high proportion of renewable sources, moving away from fossil fuels. Historically, hydropower has been the dominant source, generating around 60-80% of the country’s electricity. While advantageous, this reliance can make the country vulnerable to energy shortages during droughts.
To diversify, Brazil has significantly expanded other renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and biomass. In 2023, renewable energy sources comprised 49.1% of the national energy matrix. Wind energy has seen substantial growth, making Brazil a leading producer in Latin America and the sixth largest globally, with an installed capacity of 24 GW by 2023. Solar energy has also experienced rapid expansion, with installed capacity surpassing 55 GW by March 2025, and projections indicating 90-108 GW by 2029. Sugarcane ethanol is a well-established biomass fuel, contributing to the country’s renewable energy mix and reducing reliance on oil products for transport. Government incentives and substantial investments support this transition.
National Policies and Global Cooperation
Brazil’s broader climate efforts are framed by national policies and international agreements. The National Policy on Climate Change (Law 12.187/2009) outlines key objectives, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors and strengthening carbon sinks. This policy integrates climate protection with socio-economic development and promotes research into mitigation and adaptation measures.
Under the Paris Agreement, Brazil submitted its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), which has been updated to commit to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050, compared to 2005 levels. Brazil also engages in international forums, demonstrating its commitment to global climate action. The country is set to host the United Nations COP30 climate talks in Belém in 2025, further highlighting its role in collaborative conservation efforts and climate finance discussions.