Safeguarding the Amazon to Shape Brazil’s Green Mobility Future
A conversation with Carlos Nobre, Senior Scientist at the University of São Paulo’s Institute for Advanced Studies, PhD in Meteorology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
November 5, 2024
During the 2024 Freedom of Mobility Forum annual debate, our panelists discussed the global dependency on natural resources, which are becoming increasingly scarce, and the importance of reducing our resource consumption.
In our conversation with Carlos Nobre, a scientist specializing in the Amazonian biome, he explored the links between mobility, infrastructure and deforestation. He also explained the importance of supporting socio-bioeconomies of healthy, standing forests in the Amazon.
Freedom of Mobility Forum (FOMF): In light of current environmental challenges, why is it so crucial to envision nature-respecting economies in Brazil, particularly in the Amazon region?
Carlos Nobre: To protect nature and its resources, we need to rethink our economies to consider ecosystems like tropical forests. In the Amazon, 18% of the original forest has been lost, with livestock farming causing 90% of Brazil’s deforestation. To address this, we should focus on “socio-bioeconomies,” economic models that use nature-based solutions and draw from indigenous and local knowledge.
These economies in the Amazon prioritize the sustainable use and restoration of healthy standing forests and flowing rivers, supporting indigenous peoples’ well-being, knowledge, rights, and territories.(1) They are based on biodiversity products and agroforestry systems, developed by the indigenous groups living in the Amazon. These groups produce more than 2,000 biodiversity products, such as fruits, nuts, medicines, fish and other resources.
Socio-bioeconomies can be highly beneficial for Amazon residents, as well as the global community, evidenced by several cooperatives developing agroforestry systems. These systems not only improve livelihoods but can also yield significant profits, some of which can be up to seven times higher than those from livestock farming. By 2050, Brazil alone could generate an additional USD 8.2 billion annually through investments in these economies.
However, a major challenge for their development is the dominance of livestock farming, which makes up 7% of Brazil’s gross domestic product, while products from biodiversity contribute only 0.4%. The key is to scale up these bioeconomies to realize their full potential.
FOMF: What mobility-related challenges does Brazil need to address in transitioning towards such new economic models, and what sustainable options are available?
Nobre: Mobility, especially road transportation, is a major driver of deforestation in the Amazon. Both legal and illegal roads are closely connected with deforestation: 95% of deforestation in the Amazon takes place within 5.5 km (3.4 miles) of existing roads, facilitating access for land speculators, mining, and illegal logging.
Road transportation also contributes significantly to health problems in cities. Throughout the world, pollution from fossil fuel combustion causes millions of deaths each year. In São Paulo, a city of 21 million people, diesel buses are a leading contributor to air pollution. Life expectancy in São Paulo, where people commute primarily by bus, is two years shorter than the national average, and those spending more than three hours a day on buses face a reduction of up to four years in life expectancy.
The key challenge is to quickly convert to more sustainable options, such as electric vehicles or green hydrogen. Brazil has significant renewable energy solutions, including solar, wind and hydroelectric power. The cost of solar electricity is now only one-third that of fossil fuels, making the shift towards electric mobility a viable option. I believe that scaling up such initiatives is crucial. São Paulo has recently purchased 3,000 electric buses.
FOMF: To what extent can multimodal transportation and alternatives to road transport serve as a solution?
Nobre: Existing road transportation infrastructure has significantly contributed to deforestation in the Amazon region. It is crucial to rethink our transportation systems to achieve connectivity with lower environmental impact. And to do so, we need to consider the full range of transportation options. For the Amazon, water transport and aviation are options that could provide essential connectivity while minimizing environmental harm.
Shifting to electric road transportation is important, but it is also crucial to prioritize alternative transportation modes. In Brazil, public transportation is mostly bus-based and underdeveloped in terms of rail infrastructure, whether subways or trains. Transitioning away from diesel buses is imperative not only for environmental reasons but also to reduce noise pollution and address social disparities.
Low-carbon multimodal transportation should be developed. Brazil should renovate and improve its railway infrastructure, while also focusing on aviation and river transport. These modes are well-suited to Brazil’s environment and can significantly mitigate deforestation and other negative impacts linked to road transportation(2). Although railways are less harmful than roads, they still contribute to deforestation by transporting large volumes of goods over long distances. However, maintaining existing railroads can help avoid road expansion. The river network, which has been used over centuries, offers the greatest efficiency per ton transported but requires infrastructural improvements to enhance safety and adapt to the effects of climate change. Small-scale aviation, including seaplanes, can enhance connectivity and provide access to remote areas.
A sustainable infrastructure alternative requires the development of renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and hydropower. Brazil’s natural resources offer significant potential: coastal zones and Guyana-border regions are ideal for wind energy; there is substantial potential for solar photovoltaic generation; and the Amazon River is well-suited for hydropower. These solutions can facilitate an efficient transition to a low-carbon economy and improve the region’s well-being.
Moreover, infrastructure must not only provide transportation, but also digital connectivity, fostering economic growth and social inclusion by reducing barriers to education and health services.
FOMF: During the 2024 debate, panelist Roberto Schaeffer underlined the relevance of developing biofuels in Brazil. Can these fuels represent a viable alternative to fossil fuels for road transportation?
Nobre: During the 1979 oil crisis, Brazil made a significant move by producing bioethanol from sugar cane. This initiative positioned Brazil as one of the pioneering countries in the world in terms of bioethanol vehicle production and marketing. By the 1990s, Brazil started to produce hybrid vehicles, running on gasoline and bioethanol. This shift contributed to a reduction in the transportation sector’s emissions, as sugarcane-based bioethanol emits only 20% of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced by diesel.
However, in 2019 the government approved regulations which increased the risk of deforestation and environmental degradation, as they authorized the cultivation of sugar cane in the Amazon and the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, located near Paraguay and Bolivia. They also promoted the development of corn-based bioethanol, which emits around 80% of the GHG emissions produced by gasoline.
Besides, biodiesel production in Brazil also relies on soybeans, whose cultivation is a major driver of deforestation in the tropical savanna biome, located in Central Brazil. This deforestation is primarily driven by global demand for soybeans used in animal feed.
This highlights that the type of bioethanol used matters, but it is also important to bear in mind that, if all car transportation in Brazil relied solely on gasoline vehicles, GHG emissions would increase.
FOMF: In what ways can citizens and individual behaviors contribute to the sustainable development of mobility and the reduction of deforestation in Brazil?
Nobre: Citizens have a crucial role to play in developing Amazonian socio-bioeconomies. This involves actively changing narratives about how we can generate the most value and well-being within the region. Rather than focusing on lost profits from avoiding deforestation or the costs of developing unsustainable river infrastructure, citizens need to advocate for policy makers to recognize the inclusive development opportunities offered by investing in socio-bioeconomies.
Supporting the expansion of subway and train systems is essential for Brazil, where there is significant room for improvement in public transportation. Enhancing these systems would benefit all citizens, especially those in need.
Daily habits such as using bicycles are also beneficial for health and the environment, but in Brazil, they remain underdeveloped due to inadequate urban infrastructure. Citizens should advocate for the government to create bike lanes and promote cycling. Such infrastructure encourages both individual and collective use of low-carbon transportation, thereby reducing environmental impacts.