Facts and figures about Brazil and climate change.
 | Facts from the Allianz/WWF Climate Scorecard (click to enlarge)Greenhouse gas emissions in Brazil by sector and energy sources (Graphic: Allianz/WWF) |
BRAZIL'S CARBON FOOTPRINT AT A GLANCE
Country: Brazil
Population: 190 million people (5th largest worldwide)
Estimated Annual CO2 Emissions: 540 million tons
FACTS ABOUT BRAZIL AND CLIMATE CHANGE
01. Brazil would rank only 18th in the world of carbon dioxide emitters if it were not for deforestation. Due to the 200 million tons of carbon dioxide released by burning rainforest each year, Brazil ranks in the top 10.
02. Most of Brazil's greenhouse gas emissions - as much as 75 percent - come from unsustainable land use and deforestation.
03. Brazil's 450 hydroelectric dams produce over 83 percent of the country's electricity. Brazil is the world's third largest producer of hydroelectricity behind China and Canada.
04. Brazil is the world's biggest exporter of sugar-based ethanol fuel. The Brazilian government plans to triple the amount of ethanol it exports every year from around 3 billion to 10 billion liters by 2015.
05. Brazilians - along with Indians - showed more "personal commitment" than any of the other 7 countries surveyed by HSBC, including China, Britain, the United States, and Germany.
06. Since 2004, Brazil has created over 200,000 square kilometers hectares of protected parks, reserves, and national forests in the Amazon region encompassing less than five percent of the basin.
07. The Amazon rainforest, most of which is located in Brazil, is home to up to one third of the world's known plant and animal species, thousands of which are unique to the region.
08. Around 80 percent of all new cars sold in Brazil have "flex-fuel" engines, which means they can run on gasoline, ethanol, or a combination of both.
09. The Associated Press called Brazil the world's "undisputed renewable energy leader," primarily due to its widespread use of hydroelectric power and ethanol. Brazil is also looking to expand its use of biomass plants, wind turbines, and solar water heating systems to further reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.
10. Researchers say that global warming could cut into Brazilian soybean harvests by up to 60 percent, costing billions of dollars each year in losses.
Sources: International Energy Agency, SciDev.net, Bloomberg, HSBC, Woods Hole Research Center, Conservation International, National Geographic, Newsweek
editor: Valdis Wish
publishing date: September 10, 2007
