Coalition aims to advance the decarbonization of the transport sector, contributing to a low-carbon economy; the movement is led by CEBDS, Grupo CCR and Insper, and aims to contribute to the Climate Plan, focused on COP30 in Pará.
On Wednesday (26), during the fourth edition of the event “Brazil Towards COP30”, the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development, the CCR Group and the National Observatory for Sustainable Mobility at Insper announced the launch of a Coalition that will unite companies in the transport sector with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions. The initiative will involve the participation of companies, sector associations and civil society organizations so that different areas of transport can engage in dialogue in favor of advancing sustainable development in Brazil.
“In recognition of CEBDS’ leadership and the efforts of its members to incorporate sustainability into their businesses, we were invited by Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, Secretary of Climate, Energy and Environment, to contribute even more to the search for solutions for the decarbonization of five key sectors of the Brazilian economy. Alongside CEBDS, our member CCR Group took on the challenge of contributing to the emissions reduction strategy of the important transportation sector, and then providing assertive subsidies for the government to formulate its policy for the area. Companies have a fundamental role in combating climate change, and the Transportation Sector Coalition, which is vital in our continental country, will contribute effectively to this global challenge,” says Marina Grossi, president of CEBDS.
The goal is to advance the use of clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in six verticals: infrastructure and intersections; urban mobility; road transport, rail transport; air transport and water transport and cabotage. In addition, the expectation is that the discussions and proposals can contribute to new decarbonization goals, established by the Climate Plan, which will be presented by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in 2025. BCG, a global consultancy, will act as a partner in the initiative, listing the advances of the initiative in a final document.
“As the largest mobility infrastructure company in Brazil, the CCR Group is aware of its responsibility to lead the sector’s sustainability agenda. Additionally, we recognize the importance of COP30, which will be held in Belém do Pará next year, especially after the results of COP29. Therefore, in collaboration with CEBDS, sector associations and other relevant operators in the national scenario, we decided to form a broad Coalition to produce a recommendation that supports the Government in its proposal to reduce emissions from the national transport sector, with benefits for the entire Brazilian society”, says the CEO of the CCR Group, Miguel Setas.
Each of the Coalition’s six subgroups is led by an association and has the participation of other organizations, both civil society and private. The Infrastructure and Intersectionality section, for example, is led by MoveInfra and the Brazilian Association of Infrastructure and Base Industries (ABDIB), while the Urban Mobility section is coordinated by the National Observatory of Sustainable Mobility and ANPTrilhos.
“Building the necessary alternatives for the decarbonization of transportation is a task that can only be accomplished through alliances and cooperation between governments, companies, the third sector and academia. Joining forces is the only way for transportation to execute its energy transition. The National Observatory for Sustainable Mobility, part of the Insper Center for City Studies, coordinates the Coalition with the CCR Group and CEBDS precisely because it believes that the consortium of science with the private and public sectors can be decisive for sustainable, safe and inclusive transportation,” emphasizes the Observatory’s Coordinator, Sérgio Avelleda.
The road transport group is led by the Brazilian Association of Highway Concessionaires (ABCR) and ANTF leads the rail transport category; air transport is the responsibility of ABR. ABAC, ABANI, ABTP and ATP lead the port segment. Hidrovias do Brasil, Rumo, Siemens Energy, Volkswagen Caminhões e Ônibus, Scania, Santos-Brasil, and Ultracargo have confirmed their participation.
Importance and progress in decarbonizing the transport sector
The transport sector plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable development, being one of the largest contributors to global CO₂ emissions, accounting for 16% of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to KPMG’s Net Zero Readiness Report 2023. Reducing these emissions is a priority to mitigate the impacts of climate change and achieve goals such as those of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The creation of mechanisms that enable the transition to a low-carbon economy in the transport sector’s production chains makes this an important point for advancing sustainable agendas and reducing the impacts of climate change in Brazil and around the world. The Coalition is a pioneering step towards a green economy, which will help put Brazil at the forefront of global discussions on decarbonizing the transport sector.
Next steps and COP30
With the group structured, its participants will move on to the phase of holding workshops, technical meetings and developing recommendations that will be necessary to contribute to the Climate Plan. The discussions, opinions, data and proposals aimed at decarbonizing the transportation sector will result in a document that will be presented in the first quarter of 2025.
The idea is for the initiative to present its results during COP30, which will take place next year in Belém, Pará.
You can follow more news about Brazilian sustainability and the role of the private sector in the process by visiting cebds.org.