Conhecimento é poder. - Revista O Papel

O Papel – What’s the importance behind the 1 st Anthropic
Emissions Inventory Count of Direct and Indirect
Greenhouse Gases of the State of São Paulo
Bruno Covas – The State Policy on Climate
Change (PEMC) is an innovative proposal on the
part of the State of São Paulo in many aspects. The
Inventory Count of Greenhouse Gases (GHG) is one
of the instruments defined by Law #13,798/2009,
and the decision for its updating in itself is already
an innovation of this law.
The country’s inventory counts are carried out
in accordance with common methodologies developed
by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC) and accepted internationally. Even
though it’s a practice recognized by signatory
countries of the Climate Convention, the initiative
is not yet mainstream in subnational states of developing
countries, like Brazil.
The Department of Environment (SMA) opted to conduct
this Inventory Count in consonance with the national
experience, through the creation of a comprehensive
network of entities, professionals and specialists,
grouping contributions from more than 320 professionals
and 120 partnering institutions.
O Papel – In regards to the Inventory results presented,
which segments stand out in a positive manner
Covas – In its executive summary, the Inventory
report presents a piece of information that may surprise
a lot of people regarding the state’s emissions
profile. Even though it accounts for roughly 33% of
Brazil’s GDP, the State of São Paulo is responsible for
only 6.5% of total emissions in Brazil. For every R$
1,000 produced in the country, 0.72 tons of carbonic
gas (CO 2
) is produced, while in the State of São Paulo
said figure amounts to 0.14 tons of CO 2
, that is, 20%
of the national indicator.
O Papel – Is the pulp and paper industry one the
sectors that have evolved in environmental terms
Covas – CETESB (São Paulo State Environmental
Company) developed atmospheric emission estimates
for this sector, which were included in the Reference Reports
used to prepare the state communication. However,
it is not a GHG study; they are conventional pollutants
that were included in the IPCC inventory count method.
In said document, the eventual cesspools related to
paper production in the state were not considered. The
method employed made it clear that the increase in atmospheric
emissions is directly related to the increase
in pulp production. CETESB technicians pointed out that
local emission factors should be developed and the sector
can contribute to this, so that the next GHG Inventory
Count updates for the State of São Paulo include
current information.
O Papel – Still with regards to the pulp and paper
sector, there are ways to contribute even more to carbon
sequestration through native and planted forests.
However, current legislation still hinders the process.
Will the Department of Environment (SMA) offer some
sort of support in future negotiations by the sector
Covas – The State of São Paulo has a thriving
economy and is undergoing an excellent economic
performance phase. SMA’s actions are synergic
with this process by ensuring the environmental
quality of our state in the midst of this vibrant development
process. Additionally, it is important to
“We are
entering
a phase
in which
companies
strengthen
corporate areas
that invest in social
responsibility
and sustainability”
junho/june 2011- Revista O Papel
57