By announcing the 10-year anticipation of the commitment to neutrality of carbon emissions, Brazil took on an even greater challenge to meet the targets established under the Paris Agreement, contained in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). According to the new version of the document, the so-called net zero should now be reached in 2050, and no longer in 2060.

According to João Adrien, Director of Environmental Regularization at the Brazilian Forest Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, the new target represents an opportunity for greater partnership between the public and private sectors, more specifically the forest-based segment. At an event held at the Brazil Pavilion during COP26, Adrien stated that Brazil currently has 16 million hectares of forest recovery areas, that is, a result above the 12 million target presented in the previous version of the NDC.

In order to fulfill the new commitments, according to Adrian, the country plans to recover 18 million hectares with the restoration of forests for various uses.

“This demonstrates that Brazil has managed to advance in the forest recovery agenda for various uses, whether for planted forests for economic purposes, but also for purposes of environmental recovery and adaptation,” said the director. “Brazil has a great challenge ahead of it, but a great potential to join efforts and foster a forest-based economy, which, in addition to a whole discussion of a circular-based economy, is also an important solution for the fulfillment of our NDCs . The union between private [entities] and the government is fundamental for the objective [of neutrality of emissions]”, he added.

Carbon market
Suzano CEO Walter Schalka assesses that the expected definition of rules for the carbon market, at the end of COP26, is essential for the global decarbonization process by the forest sector. Schalka considers that the consensus around the regulation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which deals with the issue, would be a demonstration of the success of the meeting.

For him, the regulated carbon market could provide the largest historical investment in the regeneration of areas in the world, by fostering private investment.

“If we don’t have a regulated carbon market, we won’t have enough resources to be able to do this. Therefore, I defend a model that is cap and trade, in which companies have an emission limit and, if they stay below that limit, they can sell carbon; if it stays above, they have to buy carbon”, defended Schalka.

During the event, the executive cited the price of US$ 12 per ton of carbon as enough to unlock important investments in the reforestation sector.

Also present at the meeting, Klabin’s CEO, Cristiano Teixeira, stated that the pulp and paper sector can offer part of the solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, mainly by absorbing carbon.

“Our sector today is at the forefront, whether in terms of stock, mitigation, or adaptation by our local partners. We have a direct role. I am highly motivated by the strength that our forestry sector can offer as a contribution to solving the problem”, concluded Teixeira.