|
 "The USA didn't sign so we shouldn't do anything." This is the response that I most commonly encounter when discussing the Kyoto Protocol with the average Brazilian businessman. It is a fact that Mr Bush's petroleum fueled political regime did not endorse the International agreement but for Brazilians to present this as reason for their non-involvement in the process is to misinterpret the aim of the protocol.
Research carried out on the exact content of the much discussed treaty will rapidly unveil the presence of various mechanisms that are in place to theoretically assist Brazil on its stuttering path towards "development". One such method is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which in principle is aimed at attracting state of the art clean technology, large scale financial investment and environmentally friendly business philosophy to countries such as this one. The increased release of certain gases, through human activity, since the onset of the industrial revolution has lead to the intensification of the "Greenhouse Gas Effect" (itself a natural process). In recent years the world's scientific community has proved beyond doubt that we are presently experiencing unusually rapid rises in average global temperatures. Brazil directly witnessed the response of the international community to this mankind influenced situation during the ECO-92 conference which took place in Rio de Janeiro. These initial discussions eventually lead to Japanese shores, which witnessed the drawing up of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997. The basic premise of which is that all industrialized countries will reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to an average of 5% below those of the levels of 1990. Following the ratifying signature of Russia the agreement came into force on February 16th, 2005. The years from 2008 to 2012 are the dates on which the future success of this scheme hangs as this is the first commitment period. In tangible terms this means that all industrialized nations who ratified the protocol must reduce their emissions to the levels agreed or face being fined an as yet undefined sum. The Mechanisms In order for countries to achieve these targets the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has established three mechanisms for utilization. However, before introducing these devices it is extremely important to destroy a common held Brazilian myth. The countries who have ratified the treaty are spilt into two groups ANNEX 1 (Industrialized nations e.g. UK, Japan, Germany) and NON-ANNEX ("Developing" nations e.g. Brazil, China, India). The traditionally heavy polluting ANNEX 1 countries are the only countries to have agreed to make emissions reductions during the first commitment period. Brazil, along with all other NON-ANNEX countries, is under no obligation to decrease their greenhouse gas output from 2008 to 2012. In fact as can be seen from the mechanisms highlighted below the "developing" nations present position within the protocol is to facilitate reductions through the receiving of modern technology and investment. The three mechanisms created by the UNFCCC are: * Joint Implementation (JI) - emission reduction projects between two ANNEX 1 (industrialized) countries * Emissions Trading (ET) - Trading of Emission allowances between ANNEX 1 countries * Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) - emission reduction projects between an ANNEX 1 and NON ANNEX country CDM in Brazil The UNFCCC defines CDM as: "a mechanism to assist developing countries (non-annex) to achieve sustainable development and contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction under the Kyoto protocol" Through financial investment and the transfer of innovative technology ANNEX 1 countries aim to reduce GHG emissions in non-Annex countries. These reductions generated through the implementation of CDM projects result in the issuing of Certified Emissions Reductions (CER's), one variety of the commonly referred to carbon credits. These credits, certified by the UNFCCC, are then made available for purchasing by those ANNEX 1 countries looking to reach their Kyoto targets. Brazil, along with India and China, is considered one of the most advantageous places to host such projects. Anybody who is aware of the vastness of this country and its relatively high industrialization would not be shocked by this statement and to date over 180 Brazilian based CDM projects are at various stages of development. The openness of CDM means that these projects can be applied in any high polluting sector of industry or agriculture. The main sections in which these schemes are presently hosted include: * Renewable Energy (biomass, Hydro and wind)
* Waste management (gases from municipal solid waste sites and animal waste)
* Waste water treatment (e.g. wastewater from food processing)
* Fuel switching (e.g. from oil to biodiesel, biomass)
* Energy efficiency (e.g. renovation and modernization) Projects currently under development in this country fall into all of the categories outlined above. The focus in Latin America to date has been on methane gas reduction (40%), renewable energy generation (37%), fuel switching (15%) and energy efficiency (5%) projects. CDM Case Study - Methane Gas Reduction A popular area in which projects are developed in Brazil is that of solid waste disposal responding directly to one of the most pressing question facing all urban areas in the world today. The residues are commonly stored in landfill dumpsites which have various environmental hazards associated with them. One such problem in the open sites, commonly found in Brazil is the releasing of large amounts of methane gas which is generated through the decomposition of the organic waste stored at the dump (Methane is one of six identified GHG's and is considered 21 times more pollutant than the base gas of CO²). CDM projects involve the installation of modern technology at the site, which will result in the capturing and utilization of this methane. The newly constructed equipment will both burn the gas through flaring reducing its pollutant properties in the process and is able to covert the gas into electrical energy. These types of projects, of which there are many examples across Brazil, are generally referred to as Landfill-Gas-to-Energy projects. Through the production of energy they become doubly beneficial in terms of reduction of GHG emissions. In addition to significantly reducing the release of untreated methane into the atmosphere through energy generation fed into the national grid they can potentially offset the use of energy created through non-renewable and heavily polluting fossil fuels. On the wider question of adding to the sustainable development of Brazil the opinions of all the local agents associated with the landfill are taken into account. A fine example of which is the inclusion of over 80 "catadores" (scavengers - who presently make their living off the waste) in the scheme. The outcome of these projects then amounts to the transference of modern gas utilization technology to Brazil, which is financed through the generation and sale of the certified carbon credits. In the process bringing a more sustainable solution to Brazil's urban waste dilemma and producing a clean energy source. The Kyoto Protocol and Brazil George Bush didn't sign the Kyoto Protocol but for Brazil this is currently of no interest as the Clean Development Mechanism offers an intriguing opportunity for this country. The development and success of this rapidly emerging carbon trading market is as unsure as the effects of the climate change itself, but nevertheless if Brazil aimed at establishing a central position within it then there would be little to lose it seems. Of course the system is not without its critics and still being in its early development the teething problems are there for all to see. Any scheme that in principal leads to the channeling of financial support and technological innovation to "developing" countries in the name of reducing GHG emissions and assisting sustainable development is a step in the right direction. As all Brazilians are fully aware even if the system is not perfect making the most of any opportunity that arises is a motto by which to live. Presently the Kyoto Protocol and particularly CDM is an opening that this country should be seizing with care. Tim Cowman is an environmental consultant based in São Paulo and is presently searching for employment opportunities in the city. He would welcome any comments about his articles and can be reached at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
.
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
Still, fewer know that Brazil is the fourth largest carbon emitter on the planet. That’s correct; the 4rth worst CO2 polluter in the world is not bound in any way shape or form to reduce their emissions given their Annex 2 status.
Brazil’s GH gas emissions whether through the burning of fossil fuels, transport or the methane created by landfill, are modest. Methane may be a more potent GH gas, but in the end the biggest culprit leading to a warmer world is Co2. With 50% of Brazil’s energy demands fulfilled through hydro, how is it that Brazil ranks as the world’s 4th largest carbon polluter?
Simple: 75% of Brazil’s total carbon emissions stem from deforestation.
Brazil could quite successfully and drastically reduce their anthropogenic GH gas emissions if they were to seriously tackle illegal and predatory deforestation in the Amazon as well as throughout the rest of the country.
Also, Kyoto has been seen as a failure by many, not just because bad ole Georgy didn’t ratify, but also because it was non inclusive global treaty (freeing from its binds some of the most up and coming polluter nations). Another more salient reason some place little faith in Kyoto is because the target of 5.2% (which will never be achieved regardless) was believed to be far too low to make any real difference to stave off some of the forecasted problems that the planet will face this century.
Don’t get me wrong. I fully support the Kyoto protocol, it is a step in the right direction, albeit not a very large one, but more to the point it was a global recognition in 1997 that climate change was a threat. Something that even today, people from the Flat Earth Society have a tendency to try and still discredit.
Brazil is already leading the world in biofuel technology (the caveat being that alcool is a short term fix which will be usurped by hydrogen in the next 2 decades); and the majority of Brazil’s energy is already “clean.†Still Brazil can and should invest more in solar and wind (I can think of no other nation in the world better suited for these technologies) but they shouldn’t sit on their hands and wait for hands outs via the CDM.
To really get the ball rolling on reducing Greenhouse gas emissions Brazil has to tackle deforestation in the Amazon – it is just that simple.
Congrats to the author, it’s refreshing to see an article with some substance and discussing an important issue.