healthier, happier and richer

Total national greenhouse gas emissions as a percentage of global total, 2004 figures

3%. This put Brazil eighth in the world. These figures from the Pew Centre (see International Annual CO2 Emissions) do not include the impact of deforestation. Including that raises Brazil to fifth (see World Resources Institute).

Historical contribution – 1850-2000

< 1%

Change in annual greenhouse gas emissions since 1990

43% increase between 1990 and 2000, not including land use change and so not accounting for the climate impact of deforestation (see Forum for Sustainable Development of German Business: Fact Sheet Brazil).

2005 per capita annual greenhouse gas emissions

5.4 tonnes without land use change. 2005 figures with land use change (that is, deforestation) are not available, but for 2000 the figure with land use change was 12.8 tons.

Energy used per unit of GDP (compared to USA)

68%

Balance of energy sources, 2006

	%
Oil	40
Renewables*	29.5
Hydro	13.5
Gas	8
Coal	6
Nuclear	1.5

* This is mainly firewood and biofuels. There is little non-hydro renewable electricity generation (see below).

Energy security

The best source on this is an article on the Allianz website (see Energy Security in Brazil: The Next Oil Boom?). Much of what follows is taken from this article.

In the 1970s, Brazil imported most of its oil. Since then, it has expanded its own oil production and discovered new oil reserves. A very major one has recently been discovered, though the true size is not yet certain. Without this, Brazil has oil reserves expected to last about 14 years. Brazil has also developed ethanol from sugar cane to reduce the need to import oil. This biofuel, which is better in climate terms than oil is (see Biofuels), now accounts for about 20% of surface transport fuel. As a result of these measures, Brazil now only imports about half the amount of oil every year as Belgium does.

Brazil also has some gas, but not nearly as much as it consumes. About half the gas consumed is imported from Bolivia.

Brazil has greater coal reserves than Germany does, but does not mine much of it. It is Latin America’s largest coal consumer – mainly for steel. However, less than half the coal used is produced locally. Most is imported, mainly from the US, Australia, China, Canada and South Africa.

Electricity generated in 2012

	%
Hydro	70
Gas	8
Biomass	6
Oil	3.5
Nuclear	´.5
Coal	2.5

Installed wind capacity

338.5Mw in 2008.

Electricity – supply and demand

Brazil’s electricity capacity lags behind the increase in demand. In addition, the very high reliance on hydro-electricity makes Brazil vulnerable to power shortages in low rainfall years.

30 million Brazilians are still without electricity.

Percentage of agriculture certified as organic, 2006

0.34%

Cars per thousand of population

81