COP26: State governors launch Green Brazil Consortium

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Part of the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) program, the launch was attended by governors Eduardo Leite (Rio Grande do Sul), Renato Casagrande (Espírito Santo), president of the Consortium, and Mauro Mendes (Mato Grosso). Governor Fátima Bezerra (Rio Grande do Norte) participated virtually.

The federal government’s lack of environmental policies was cited as the reason for more than 10 state governors to attend the COP26.

“We have to see the positive aspect, not failing to see the problems, and address them. There is something positive in the federal government’s absence: it creates this need for us to mobilize, the subnational governments and society itself. The federal government consists of the sum of its parts, and if the federal government is not committed to the issue, then the parts join together in other forms. By formalizing this consortium, we will have greater support from the technical standpoint to finance the required and priority initiatives within the climate change mitigation policy,” explained governor and announced candidate for President in 2022 Eduardo Leite.

So far 22 governors have joined the consortium, and all 27 are expected to participate. The consortium was created in 2019, within the framework of the Governors’ Forum.

“It was organized given the relevance of the climate change issue. Our mobilization to participate in COP26 is an example of this. The second reason is that we are filling a void caused by the federal government’s disengagement. We cannot replace it in the negotiations held by the different government branches, but we can partially offset the federal government’s absence,” said Espírito Santo governor Renato Casagrande.

After the launch, the priority is for the states to develop carbon neutrality plans, with the support of public and private entities.

On October 25 this year, Rio Grande do Sul made a commitment to work towards neutralizing the state’s carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and take action to neutralize emissions by 2050. The commitment is in line with Brazil’s pledge under the Paris Agreement and aims to mobilize national and subnational entities, companies, and institutions to minimize the effects of emissions on the global climate.

After the event, governors Leite, Casagrande and Mendes met with the U.S. Special Assistant Secretary for Climate Jonathan Pershing. The secretary made himself available to listen to the governors’ concerns on the issue.

Pershing stressed the U.S. interest in contributing and helping the states, given the federal government’s reluctance to cooperate in advancing the issue. The Secretary and the governors discussed ways in which this cooperation can be achieved.

Leite recalled that Rio Grande do Sul and the United States embassy to Brazil in June this year signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation to facilitate this type of interaction.

PANEL ON FAIR TRANSITION OF COAL IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

At the Brazil Climate Action Hub, a space dedicated to the initiatives of Brazilian society at COP26, the governor took part in the “Coal and the challenges of a fair transition in Southern Brazil” panel, alongside Nicole Oliveira (Arayara International Institute and Mineral Coal Observatory), Lucie Pinson (Reclaim Finance), Roberto Kishinami (Climate and Society Institute) and Ricardo Baitelo (Institute for Energy and Environment – IEMA).

The panel presented a panorama of coal-fired power generation in Brazil and in the world, analyzing two cases: Engie’s operations in Brazil and the closure of the coal-chemical complex Mina Guaíba, Latin America’s largest open-pit coal mine. The state public policy perspective on the challenges and opportunities of a fair transition was also presented.

Brazil depends little on coal – only 2% of its energy production comes from coal. This dependence is higher in Rio Grande do Sul, at 15%, but still much lower than in European countries, where dependence stands at around 40%. Moreover, 80% of the energy generated in Rio Grande do Sul comes from renewable sources.

“For those who are affected, it is 100%. There is the environmental issue, but also the economic one: if we don’t offer opportunities, there is no point in simply campaigning about the damages. There are whole communities that depend on this production,” the governor pointed out.

Government teams are working to enable reducing the operation of coal-fired power plants, by offering economic alternatives. “It is still an incipient process, but we are willing to promote the support for a policy that will pass through governments,” he said, noting that Rio Grande do Sul is studying the prospect of green hydrogen generation.

Early in the morning, the governor attended a press conference organized by the Climate and Development Initiative to present the Climate and Development: Insights for Brazil 2030 report, released on October 15.

Leite was joined by former Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) professor Emílio La Rovere, and Talanoa Institute president Natalie Unterstell. The governor was an active participant in the drafting of the report.

“We can’t offset the absence of federal coordination, but we are trying to understand what we, as states, can do to help,” he stressed.

The program at the conference continued on Thursday afternoon. The state delegation’s visit to COP26 ends Friday, November 5. In addition to the governor, the delegation includes the secretaries Artur Lemos Júnior (Chief of Staff) and Luiz Henrique Viana (Environment and Infrastructure).