Greenhouse gas emissions stable

Greenhouse gas emissions from Brazil remained stable in 2014 compared with the previous year, despite the 18% drop in the rate of the Amazon deforestation. The information was disclosed today (Nov. 19) by the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimate System (SEEG), from the Brazilian Climate Observatory, a network that brings together 37 civil society organizations to discuss climate change in Brazil.

According to data from SEEG 2015, last year Brazil produced 1,558 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, down 0.9% compared with the 1.571 billion tons produced in 2013.

According to the observatory, in 2013 the increase of 28% increase in the rate of the Amazon deforestation rose 8.2% the total amount of emissions compared with the previous year. With the slowdown of deforestation in 2014, emissions were also expected to drop, but expectations have not been met. The rise of 6% on the amount of carbon released to the air by the electric power sector led the 9.7% drop of emissions from deforestation to hinder Brazil's contribution to the global cooling down last year.

"New data mark the end of the stage of dropping emissions that occurred from 2004 to 2009. Since then, emissions have fluctuated around 1.5 billion tons of CO2," read the note from SEEG Coordinator Tasso Azevedo.

In 2014, the electric power sector emitted 479.1 million tons of CO2e, and is currently beside deforestation (emitting 486.1 million tons of CO2e), as the main sources of greenhouse gas production.

According to the observatory, the growth was driven by the transport sector, which is emitting 3% more than in 2013; by the electricity production, which increased 23% due to thermal power stations run on diesel oil; and by the fuel production, responsible for the 6.8% increase in emissions.

"The participation of thermal power station in producing energy in order to compensate the water crisis that affected hydropower plants occupied the leading role in this result," said André Ferretti, General Coordinator of the Climate Observatory. He reported that the country needs to diversify its energy matrix by investing in clean energy sources like wind and second generation ethanol, produced from sugarcane bagasse.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta