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Loading ...You Know Climate Change Has Arrived as an Issue in Brazil…
Friday, February 20th, 2009…when a prominent Rio samba school arranges for carbon offsets so that it can declare itself Brazil’s first “carbon neutral” entrant in the Carnaval competition! All kidding aside, the Niterói-based Unidos do Viradouro samba school has announced that when it competes in Rio’s famed Sambódromo, all greenhouse gases emissions associated with its performance will be […]
Paraná Promotes Energy from Biodigestors
Tuesday, February 17th, 2009If you’ve been reading The Temas Blog for awhile, you might recall a prior post about an idea promoted by the hydropower firm Itaipu Binacional (IB) to create a network of farm-based biodigestors across MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay) that would generate electricity to power electric vehicles (built at facilities by the Itapu Dam) used […]
ECLAC on Elements for Formulating Public Policy on Biofuels
Thursday, February 5th, 2009The biofuel programs in the developed countries — particularly those in the US and the European Union (EU) — represent a series of opportunities, challenges and risks for the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). If biofuel production is to create economic growth in LAC nations without jeopardizing its natural capital and social […]
World Bank Case for a Stronger LAC Commitment on Climate Change
Sunday, January 25th, 2009Earlier this month the World Bank made a presentation to the Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) preparing the draft Declaration of Commitment to be adopted by heads of state and government at the upcoming Fifth Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on why the Declaration should include stronger commitments by […]
Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Rio de Janeiro State
Wednesday, January 7th, 2009In its recent report on activities and issues it confronted in 2008, the environment secretariat (SEA) of Rio de Janeiro state (RJ) included a summary graphic from the so-to-be-released state greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory that I though I’d share with you here: By sources, the biggest GHG emitter in RJ is industry at 33.8%, followed […]
Some Eye-Opening Graphics on GHG Emissions & Carbon Credits
Sunday, January 4th, 2009There’s a wonderful resource for graphics related to environmental issues run by the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) GRID-Arendal center in Norway. I started browsing it regularly for their maps, but have found their graphical depictions of tough issues to be quite useful. Recently I came across several regarding climate change that I thought I’d share […]
Minas Seeks to Lead in Environmental Policy / Minas Pretende Ser Lider na Política Ambiental
Monday, December 29th, 2008Minas Gerais is seeking to take the lead among Brazilian states in environmental protection, and they want everyone to know it! [Look out, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and São Paulo!] At year-end the state environment secretary José Carlos Carvalho released a report card on mineiro environment policy achievements and plans for 2009. He particularly […]
Brazil to Release GHG Inventory for Waste & Sanitation Sectors / Brasil vai divulgar dados sobre a emissão de gases de efeito estufa do setor de resíduos sólidos e efluentes
Monday, December 29th, 2008While many developing nations — including most Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) nations — are content to submit the minimum communication required under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Brazil has not taken the easy route. If you check the Temas listing of national greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, you’ll see that no less […]
Minas Releases Its Own Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Sunday, November 30th, 2008Earlier this year the Brazilian state of MInas Gerais (MG) released an inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2005. I found this inventory interesting and this you might too. MG has a more diverse economy than most Brazilian states, being a leader in agriculture, mining and industry, all with different impacts on GHG emissions. […]
Brazil Defends Sugarcane Ethanol / Brasil defende etanol de cana-de-açúcar
Friday, November 21st, 2008From Brazil’s Nation Development Bank (BNDES): BNDES publishes book with unprecedented mapping of the ethanol sector Brazil is one of the most advanced countries in technology and productivity in all stages of the sugarcane ethanol production chain. The Brazilian experience shows that sugarcane bioethanol has become one of the most important responses to the growing […]