Brazil’s Sustainable Fuels Pledge Is Dangerously Ambitious and Risks Repeating Mistakes of the Past - CleanTechnica

The article discusses Brazil’s recent pledge, alongside India, Italy, and Japan, to quadruple global sustainable fuel use by 2035, a goal that implies more than doubling biofuel consumption. While Brazil’s commitment to reducing fossil fuel reliance in transport is positive, the article warns that such a rapid expansion of biofuels risks repeating past environmental mistakes. Historically, biofuel growth has driven significant deforestation and ecosystem damage, as seen with palm oil in Southeast Asia, where increased demand led to habitat destruction and a net rise in carbon emissions despite intentions to reduce them. The article highlights that the International Energy Agency (IEA) cautions against land expansion for biofuel crops, a critical caveat missing from Brazil’s pledge, raising concerns about sustainability. Brazil, the world’s second-largest biofuel producer, has long promoted biofuels through policies like RenovaBio, heavily relying on crops such as sugarcane, corn, and soy. These crops can lead to land degradation, water stress