Scientist Carlos Nobre says Brazil can achieve zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. In his opening lecture on the second day of the 5th National Environmental Conference, Nobre discussed climate change and previewed data from a study still in progress that shows the country can reach the target by that date.
According to Nobre, transitions to a 100% clean energy matrix, carbon-neutral agriculture, negative emissions from appropriate land use, and large-scale restoration are necessary.
“Brazil has the full potential to have 100% clean and renewable energy and, by 2040, with much more carbon-neutral agriculture, large-scale forest restoration. Our study indicates that we can remove up to 600 million tons of CO2 annually, starting in 2040, by restoring biomes,” says the climatologist.
The scientist highlighted that the effects of these measures, in addition to going beyond tackling the climate emergency, could guarantee a better quality of life for the population.
“In case you didn’t know, burning fossil fuels generates pollutants in every city worldwide. How many people die due to urban pollution in the world? Six to seven million people per year.”
Carlos Nobre highlighted that, in 2022, Brazil was the fifth-largest emitter on the planet, releasing 11 tons of greenhouse gases per person per year. In comparison with other large emitters, China at the time emitted 10.5 tons per person, India emitted 2 tons, and the United States emitted 16.5 tons per person per year.
According to scientists, Brazil has been improving its situation. Still, with the current government’s policies, such as the restoration of 12 million hectares and the goal of eliminating deforestation in all biomes by 2030, the country will emit 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent if fossil fuels and high-emission agriculture continue.
Consequences
Without more emphatic measures to address the climate emergency, Carlos Nobre shows that there will be serious consequences, such as coral bleaching, which puts 25% of all ocean biodiversity at risk, and the intensification of global warming, with an indication that 99% of species will disappear if the planet exceeds 2 degrees above the industrial period.
Other disastrous consequences highlighted by the climatologist are the thawing of land with solid water, which is responsible for retaining a gigantic amount of methane and carbon dioxide.
“If it exceeds 2 degrees, we will release more than 200 billion tons of methane and carbon dioxide. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, 30 times stronger than carbon dioxide,” he explains.
Source: Agência Brasil