Brazil is the tenth largest energy consumer in the world and the third largest in the Western Hemisphere, behind the United States and Canada. Over the past decade, Brazil has made great strides in increasing its total energy production, particularly with regard to oil. In the early 1990’s, for example, Brazil intended to increase its biofuels production and exports. This report analyses the country case studies and highlight the centrality of energy to socio-economic development of Brazil.
In this study, the authors analyse a reference scenario (RS) and an alternative policy scenario (AS) for future energy and emissions up to 2030 (in Brazil). In particular, this report investigates the Alcohol Program in Brazil (Proálcool) since it shows that adequate public policies regarding biomass production can deliver direct benefits like energy security improvement, foreign exchange savings, local employment generation, reduced urban air pollution and avoided CO2 emissions.
In addition, the authors examine the National Biodiesel Production and Use Program, launched by the Brazilian Federal Government in 2004, with which the government intends to foster rural development and energy security, reducing at the same time poverty and GHG emissions.
The report is divided in three main parts: the first one introduces the overview and the methodological issues; the second one deals with future projections and the last one presents comparative results of the research.

By: E. Lèbre La Rovere, A. Pereira, A. Simões, A.S. Pereira et al (UNEP RisØ Cent

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