Brazil mitigated between 100.21 and 154.38 million Mg CO2 equivalent (equivalence of carbon dioxide) in the period from 2010 to 2018, reaching from 68% to 105% of the nationally established mitigation target in the agriculture sector plan ( Plan ABC) with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These data are being presented at the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP 24), which is taking place in Katowice, Poland, until the 14th.
“Brazil has one of the best environmental laws in the world. The figures that we are presenting show that we have already achieved practically all the commitments made by the country at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Copenhagen, which must be fulfilled by 2020. The data show that Brazilian agriculture is sustainable and the world needs recognize this, “said Blairo Maggi, Agriculture, Livestock and Supply Minister (MPLS).
The director of the Department of Productive Chains and Sustainable Production (DEPROS) do MPLS, Pedro Neto, explains that the adoption of the ABC Plan technologies are not restricted to the areas financed by this plan, but also to other sources such as the case Recovery (RDP).
Data from the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) and MapBiomas are also measured, using the Greenhouse Gas Emission and Removal Estimating System (SEEG). This explains the variation of mitigation estimates.
The director reminds that it was fundamental to evaluate the mitigation results the creation of the ABC Platform, installed in Embrapa Environment. The objective of the platform is to articulate the multi-institutional actions of monitoring the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) of the sectors of Brazilian agriculture, especially those executed by the ABC Plan.
“Taking the RDP as an example, data from the Central Bank on the adoption of credit for the use of this technology in the period from 2013 to 2018, added to data projected by the Coordination of Conservation Farming, Planted Forest and Climate Change (CAFMC) of the MPLS, indicate while the SEEG data, which use animal stocking rate to determine the pasture condition, point to a much larger area of expansion, in the order of 10, 44 million ha in the period, “said CAFMC coordinator Elvison Ramos.
About ABC, the coordinator notes that, in addition to being sustainable, the plan generates more income and productivity. This justifies investments made, often with the farmers’ own resources. In financing, from January 2013 to last month, more than 34,000 contracts were made, surpassing R $ 17 billion and adding more than 9.1 million hectares to conservation practices. This area is equivalent to almost 13 million football fields.
The Sectoral Plan for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change for the Consolidation of a Low Carbon Economy Economy in Agriculture, Plan ABC promotes the adoption of sustainable and conservative technologies of natural resources such as the RDP, the Plow-Livestock-Forest Integration ILPF), Direct Planting System (SPD), Biological Fixation of Nitrogen (FBN), Planted Forests (PF) and Animal Waste Treatment (TDA). Currently, these technologies are adopted by 52% of Brazilian municipalities, in a total of 2,885.
ILPF achieved an area expansion of 5.83 million ha in 2010 and 2016, representing 146% of the 4 million ha plan established in the ABC Plan for this technology. This area expansion allowed mitigating 36.40 million Mg CO2 equivalent, representing 182% of the mitigation goal, signed at 22 million Mg CO2 equivalent. In the Direct Planting System, the goal of expanding the area by 8 million ha was exceeded by 1.97 million ha, reaching a total of 9.97 million ha, also between 2010 and 2016. This number corresponds to reaching 18.25 million Mg CO2 equivalent, representing 101% of the target.
The Biological Nitrogen Fixation started to be used for a further 9.97 million ha, reaching 181% of the estimated target, between 2010 and 2016. With this increase of area it was possible to mitigate 18.25 million Mg CO2 equivalent, representing 182% of target. In the period from 2013 to 2018, 4.51 million m3 of animal waste were treated, representing 103% of the target for TDA. As a result, it was possible to mitigate 7.08 million Mg CO2 equivalent.
The incorporation of more than 1.10 million ha of Planted Forests between 2010 and 2018, 37% of the area target, allowed to mitigate 15.57 million Mg CO2 equivalent, being considered in this calculation the biomass produced by this crop, which corresponded to 173% of the proposed objective.
Embrapa’s Executive Director of Innovation and Technology, Cleber Soares, who is part of the MPLS delegation at the 24th COP, says that in the last five decades, the Brazilian agricultural sector has increased its productivity by 380%, allowing the transition from a vulnerable and importer of food to one of the world’s largest food suppliers. “The results of this investment, together with public policies and technical assistance, have allowed us to increase productivity, optimizing the use of areas already open and the recovery of pasture areas. With this, it was possible to strengthen the sustainability of Brazilian agricultural production throughout the national territory, “concludes the director.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.