The Minister of the Environment, Joaquim Leite, reinforced on Thursday (31), during a ministerial meeting of the environmental committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Brazil's commitment to concrete actions to reduce carbon emissions and the development of a new green economy. According to the minister, Brazil is part of the solution for the world to create a new green economy neutral in emissions by 2050.

Leite said the federal government is prioritising improving air quality, reducing plastic pollution and the issue of climate change, which were the themes of the OECD ministerial meeting. "Our large cities have low levels of pollution, because for years we have had a robust program of biofuels, such as ethanol, an example for the world, in addition to the Well-structured Program for The Control of Air Pollution by Motor Vehicles since 1990," he said.

Regarding climate change, the minister highlighted the National Methane Emission Reduction Program (Methane Zero), launched last week, focusing on organic waste from the pig, poultry, dairy, sugarcane and landfill sectors. "The program can reduce 36% of methane emissions in Brazil," he said. Milk also highlighted the National Regulated Emissions Market, which started the implementation of a regulated market focused on exporting carbon credit from various sources.

The minister also announced, during the OECD meeting, the regulation of the marine wind energy sector. "Studies by the Ministry of the Environment, in partnership with the European Union, point to a scenario of enormous potential, of the order of 700 Gwatts and with high economic attractiveness," he said.

Leite also said that studies have begun for the development of the National Green Hydrogen Plan, which will aim to make Brazil a major exporter of clean energy.

Commitments to the environment at COP26

The environment minister's participation in the OECD meeting is in line with the commitments made by Brazil during the United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) held in November last year in Glasgow, Scotland.

One of the main agreements, involving more than 100 countries, is the global commitment that aims to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Brazil, which is among the signatories of the agreement, is one of the main methane emitters on the planet.

In November last year, former Agriculture Minister Tereza Cristina said the agreement to reduce methane emissions will bring opportunities for agro.

"Much more than problems, this will bring great opportunities for our livestock to be increasingly efficient. Our tropical agriculture already reduces several gases, not only methane and also carbon. We have a lot to show what is already being done and what else we will be able to do, especially in livestock, from the new technologies that have emerged in recent years", said the minister at the time.

Source: Canal Rural