The ETC supported Instituto Talanoa who hosted a dialogue on accelerating a fair and credible fossil fuel phase-out in Brazil at the WWF Pavillion on 12 November. The E+ Institute and Instituto de Energia e Meio Ambiente (IEMA) also took part; Sophie Westlake (DESNZ) spoke on behalf of both the ETC and the UK Government.
The dialogue saw experts, civil society and policymakers examine how Brazil can align its long-term climate goals with the practical steps needed to accelerate fossil fuel phase-out, strengthen energy security and promote a just transition.
The dialogue saw experts, civil society and policymakers examine how Brazil can align its long-term climate goals with the practical steps needed to accelerate fossil fuel phase-out, strengthen energy security and promote a just transition.
Speakers emphasised the need for coherent planning across sectors, stronger governance and clear transition pathways that protect both people and the economy.
Highlights from the Dialogue
- Brazil’s strong renewable power base offers a solid foundation, but clearer sectoral targets and coherent policies are needed, particularly in transport and industry.
- Governance gaps and inconsistent planning remain barriers to aligning short-term decisions with long-term climate goals.
- International perspectives, including UK experience, highlighted the value of carbon pricing, sectoral targets, and regulatory clarity to unlock investment and reduce system costs.
- Any role for sustainable fuels must meet strict climate, land-use and equity criteria and complement broader electrification efforts.
The key two take-aways
- Brazil has significant structural advantages for a rapid, just transition, but coordinated policy action and stronger alignment between climate goals, planning and regulation are essential.
- Brazil’s strong renewable electricity base offers a strategic advantage, but moving toward a credible fossil fuel phase-out will require clearer targets, more coordinated planning, and safeguards to ensure fuel-switching strategies support climate and land-use goals.
Insights in relation to specific themes are:
- Energy system trends: Brazil’s electricity mix remains highly renewable, but other sectors – particularly transport and industry – are experiencing growing fossil fuel pressure and do not yet have clear transition targets.
- Transport and fuels: Speakers noted that biofuels can support emissions reductions in the transport sector if policies are carefully designed to avoid deforestation, manage land-use impacts and address concerns around food competition. Biofuels were framed as a complement to electrification rather than a replacement.
- Governance and planning: Participants highlighted fragmented policymaking, inconsistent signals across ministries and lobbying pressures as ongoing challenges. They stressed the need for better integration between climate, energy and industrial strategies.
- Fossil fuel pathways: Several interventions raised concerns about long-term scenarios that rely heavily on oil and gas. Participants emphasised the need for a clearer fossil fuel phase-down roadmap with sector-specific milestones.
- International perspectives: UK examples were shared, showing how carbon pricing, regulatory certainty and clear targets have supported coal phase-out and shifted investment patterns. These may hold potentially relevant lessons for Brazil.