Brazil, Mato Grosso State News

The education work on sustainable agriculture by Grupo Semente illustrates how small scale farmers can achieve better environmental and health outcomes by adopting modern practices. However, the high cost of certification of organic produce in relation to the farmers’ output presents a challenge to securing a price premium in the marketplace. More institutional support is thus required to address constraints in human and financial resources and upscale sustainable farming practices. “Just as individuals face institutional barriers that prevent them from achieving a greater impact, institutions face systemic barriers that stand in the way of achieving deep, transformative change. When the three levels – individuals, institutions and the overarching system – act in concert, that’s when things are starting to change rapidly” remarks Giuliano Montanari, Green Economy Specialist at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Specifically, the workshop set out to validate findings and recommended actions for advancing capacity building derived from the Green Economy Learning Assessment (GELA), a study realized by the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT). As part of their methodology, the UFMT researchers talked to numerous stakeholders and institutions in civil society, academia, the private and public sector to identify strategic intervention points to advance learning on sustainability in the state. “One of the intervention points aims at enriching curricula of secondary education institutions with basic green economy concepts, to achieve better geographical reach and promote behavioral change over the long term” explains Luciane Durante, Professor and project lead for the study.

In his concluding observations, Olivan Rabelo, Director of the Office of Technological Innovation at UFMT, pointed out an additional skill to learn in order to induce change in the particularly diverse social landscape of Mato Grosso, namely empathy. “With so many different economic, cultural and social interests spread over such vast distances in our state, we need to able to mutually understand each other. And this is why this we’re talking more than economic policy today. Things are already moving here, but we need to take that discussion to more citizens and initiatives.” For this workshop, chief Rony drove nearly five hours to make his pitch. If some of the actions of the GELA get implemented, next time perhaps the green economy discussion may come straight to the public square of his tribe.

Attendees: Rony Paresi, chief of the Wazare tribe, Flora Ferreira Camargo, agronomist at the civil society initiative Grupo Semente, and Suenia Maria Cordeiro, representative of the public agency Sebrae

Visit the UFMT website for more information on programmes and initiatives.

6 September 2016, Geneva - Host of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Brazil has been in the international spotlight over the last couple of years. The world’s attention has now shifted from sporting events to sustainable green economy practices, as the Brazilian government embarks on a quest to green their economy through boosting renewable energy, implementing green jobs, and maintaining biodiversity in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With support from the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE), Brazil will prove to be a model country for other South American countries by embracing an economic model that is more sustainable, green, and socially inclusive.

During the second session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-2), which took place May 23-27, 2016  in Nairobi, Kenya, PAGE celebrated the joining of Brazilian state, Mato Grosso. This inland state, whose name means “great woods,” is made up of an enormous plain, home to Pantanal swamp and small mountain ranges, and  is acclaimed as one of the great frontier regions in the world with intriguing biodiversity. Due to its vast wildlife and rich natural resources, preserving this area is of utmost importance to the government, which will work with PAGE to develop a state strategy for expanding green economy whilst protecting the natural habitat. 

Brazil is no stranger to the green economy transition. Over the last year, they have seen a 30 per cent increase in the use of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, which has been boosting Brazil’s green and sustainable building design, construction, and operations, enabling businesses and politicians to attract new foreign investment and increase real estate portfolio competition. There are currently 32 million gross square metres of LEED space in Brazil from 1,114 participating projects.

Additionally, Enerray and Enel Green Power have planned to invest €1.4 billion over the next three years to build more than 1.6GW of capacity between wind and photovoltaic systems. Enel currently has 807 MW of solar projects in execution in Brazil, of which 704 MW is under construction. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, BYD, has also recently agreed to place a $45 million solar manufacturing facility in Campinas, Brazil, creating 300 new jobs. BYD stated that they chose Brazil due to its growing solar capacity, which is expected to reach  2,734 MW in 2019 and 134 plants. These two investments highlight Brazil’s potential in the solar and other forms of renewable energy, which it can strive to develop, with the help of PAGE, over the coming years.

The Olympics also displayed Brazil’s transition to a green economy. As approximately 75 per cent of Brazilian electricity comes from renewable sources, new electrical distribution lines were installed to use as much grid energy as possible and reduce the use of temporary generators. Furthermore, when the generators were used, they were fueled by a mixture of fuel, including 20 per cent biodiesel. Additionally, the Rio 2016 aquatic centre contained 15,000 tiny holes that allowed air to flow naturally, sparing the use of the equivalent of 10,000 household air conditioning units.

Given the private and public sectors’ green-focused investments in renewable energy and green building, the country has set in place the necessary foundations for their transition to a green economy and drive for sustainable development. Brazil, with PAGE support, will continue its leadership in South America in green technology and inclusive and sustainable development.