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Foreign simulations disregard Brazilian environmental reality and threaten the competitiveness of national bioenergy
The application of the ILUC (Indirect Land Use Change) concept in international environmental policies has raised concerns among Brazilian biofuel experts and producers. Even with one of the strictest environmental laws in the world, Brazil could be penalized by models based on theoretical premises, compromising its participation in the global renewable energy market.
Biofuels and the impact of simulations on international trade
The concept of ILUC, or Indirect Land Use Change, proposes that the conversion of areas for biofuel production can cause indirect deforestation in other regions. The idea is that, by occupying agricultural land with crops intended for the energy, food production would be shifted to new areas, putting pressure on still preserved biomes. According to an article published by Axis Agency, this reasoning has been incorporated into international policies, especially in the European Union, based on computer projection models rather than empirical data.
This generalist approach disregards the complexity of local realities. In Brazil, for example, the Forest Code establishes requirements such as Legal Reserves and Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs), which substantially limit land use and ensure environmental protection even on private properties. However, ILUC models ignore these nuances, treating all countries as if they had the same level of environmental governance.
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Biofuel production in Brazil under threat of external devaluation
The country is one of the largest producers of biofuels in the world, with emphasis on ethanol and biodiesel. These renewable energy sources are strategic for both domestic supply and exports, especially given the global urgency to reduce carbon emissions. However, as expert Marcelo Gauto warns in his article in Axes, the imposition of fees and restrictions based on ILUC may harm precisely those producers who follow the most demanding environmental standards.
A International Energy Agency (IEA) reinforces that biofuels are essential for the decarbonization of transportation, particularly in sectors where electrification is not viable in the short term, such as aviation and maritime transport. Ignoring the real sustainability of these fuels in favor of abstract models is a strategic and environmental contradiction.
Reviewing international criteria is urgent to ensure environmental justice
The application of ILUC models in international agreements and regulations requires critical review, especially to avoid repeating injustices against countries like Brazil, whose biofuel production is recognized for its traceability and legal compliance. Excessive standardization, based on projections that ignore national contexts, distorts the market and harms the competitiveness of countries that invest in real sustainability.
As Gauto emphasizes, the central problem is not the concept of ILUC itself, but the way it has been used. When policies are built on inaccurate simulations, they risk compromising legitimate energy transition initiatives. Creating metrics that are more sensitive to local realities and based on concrete data is a necessary step to correct this distortion.
Brazilian biofuels need fair recognition in global policies
The defense of sustainability process The use of Brazilian biofuels must be a priority in international discussions. Brazil not only complies with strict legal requirements, but also contributes significantly to global energy security with low-emission alternatives. Ignoring this role because of generic methodologies could make important advances in the global energy matrix unfeasible.
Sources like Axis Agency and IEA point out that sustainability cannot be measured by a single abstract criterion. The credibility of Brazilian biofuels must be recognized by their evidence, not undermined by models that disregard the reality on the ground.
