CO2 savings in Brazil : the importance of a small contribution

Brazil's development process could lead to a doubling of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per capita over the next 4 decades. It is shown that the implementation of policy measures promoting energy efficiency and fuel switching could reduce Brazil's energy-related CO2 per capita by 11% by the year 2025 with respect to the 1985 level without necessitating any significant change in lifestyles. While Brazil's total reductions would be equivalent to only 1% of present global carbon emissions, capturing these savings opportunities would allow Brazil to participate in global efforts to curtail the generation of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and support Brazil's own economic development process.