Greenhouse gas emissions up 3.5% in Brazil

Deforestation was the main responsible for the increase

Published on 26/10/2016 - 13:44 By Daniel Mello reports from Agência Brasil - Brasília

Gross emissions of greenhouse gases in Brazil grew 3.5% in 2015, when compared with 2014, according to data released today (Oct. 26) by the Brazilian Climate Observatory, which brings together 40 civil society organizations.

According to the observatory, the country emitted 1,927 billion tonnes of CO2 last year, compared with 1.861 billion tonnes in 2014.

According to the study, deforestation was the main responsible for the increase, which reversed the downward trend in the release of pollutants, as expected in a recession year like 2015, when the gross domestic product (GDP) decreased 3.8%.

The transformation from tropical forest to crop and pasture land accounted for 46% of Brazil's emissions. In this sense, the observatory pointed out that the National Institute for Space Research indicated an increase of 25% in the rate of Amazon deforestation in 2015 compared to the previous year.

Energy

The energy sector accounts for 24% of emissions, down 5.3% in the release of pollutants in 2015. In addition to the reduction in the level of economic activity, the study indicates to the increased use of renewable energy as a factor that led to the reduction.

There was a decrease of 7.1% in the diesel consumption. And gasoline and ethanol consumption remained stable. The result indicates that the fossil fuel has been replaced by renewable fuel, with the use of ethanol up 18.6% and gasoline consumption down 9.4%. Thus, the emissions related to the fuel use fell 7.4%.

Agriculture

Agriculture, the third main responsible for emissions in Brazil, with 22% of all CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, has almost not changed in 2015. There was an increase of only 0.6% compared with the previous year.

Industrial emissions (5% of the total) fell by 1.2% last year compared with 2014.


Translated by Amarílis Anchieta


Fonte: Greenhouse gas emissions up 3.5% in Brazil

Edition: Maria Claudia / Nira Foster

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