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THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FAIR ENERGY TRANSITION IN BRAZIL
Fernando Alcoforado*
This article aims to propose to the Brazilian government the requirements for fair energy
transition in Brazil adopting a strategic process that seeks to transform the Brazilian
energy matrix, still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, into one based on clean and renewable
energy. This is one of the main topics to be addressed at COP 30 (30th United Nations
Climate Change Conference) to be held in Belém do Pará, Brazil in November 2025. A
fair energy transition must promote the decarbonization of the economy, ensuring
economic and social benefits for the Brazilian population. A fair energy transition would
require the creation of a National Fair Energy Transition Plan, with goals, a timeline, and
social participation, the prioritization of clean and renewable energy and energy
efficiency, the establishment of a fund to finance the fair energy transition, and technical
and technological education focused on the green economy.
It is well established that, to avoid the catastrophic future that looms for humanity
resulting from global warming, it is imperative, among other measures, to reduce global
greenhouse gas emissions by replacing the current global energy matrix, based primarily
on fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and nuclear energy, with a global energy matrix
structured around renewable energy resources (hydroelectricity, biomass, solar energy,
wind energy, and hydrogen) to prevent or minimize global warming and, consequently,
the occurrence of catastrophic changes in the Earth's climate [1].
In Brazil, the Ministry of Mines and Energy developed the National Energy Plan 2050
(PNE 2050), published on December 16, 2020, containing a set of studies, guidelines, and
long-term strategies for the Brazilian energy sector. It does not propose a progressive
reduction in the production of oil and its derivatives and natural gas. On the contrary, it
considers expanding the supply of petroleum derivatives and expanding the infrastructure
for moving these products to meet growing domestic demand, compromising the fight
against global climate change [2]. Regrettably, IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of
Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) recently authorized Petrobras to search
for oil at the mouth of the Amazon River with a view to its future exploration in flagrant
disobedience of the Paris Climate Agreement (COP 15).
Considering that the Brazilian energy matrix comprises 52% non-renewable energy
sources (oil and derivatives, natural gas, coal, nuclear, and other non-renewables) and
48% renewable energy sources (sugarcane derivatives, hydroelectric power, firewood and
charcoal, wind and solar power, and other renewables), the National Energy Plan (PNE
2050) should be revised to progressively reduce the share of non-renewable energy
sources, especially oil, coal, and nuclear power [3].
It is important to note that the federal government established the National Energy
Transition Policy (PNTE), approved by the National Energy Policy Council (CNPE) in
2024, to coordinate various government policies (climate, energy, ecological
transformation, etc.). The central idea is to promote a transition of the Brazilian energy
matrix to cleaner sources, with low carbon emissions. To this end, the PLANTE (National
Energy Transition Plan) was developed with a long-term strategy, including actions,
goals, deadlines, and investment estimates of approximately R$2 trillion over 10 years in
the green economy.
To advance the National Energy Transition Policy (PNTE), the Fonte (National Energy
Transition Forum) was established, providing a forum for dialogue between the