Conhecimento é poder. - Revista O Papel

point out that environmental and environmental
quality management is a shared responsibility
between government, corporations and citizens.
We are entering a phase in which companies strengthen
corporate areas that invest in social responsibility
and sustainability. Today, sustainability and
greenhouse gas inventory reports are becoming a
routine practice in many business segments, as are
proactive actions that contribute to the environment.
The State Policy on Climate Change (PEMC)
is still being structured and the outlooks are very
optimistic in terms of adding business sectors in the
challenge of managing GHG in the State of São Paulo.
A lot is yet to be done in this sense.
O Papel – In what way can the Inventory results
contribute to the mitigation goals being pursued by
São Paulo
Covas – The inventory report published maps the
state’s profile of emissions, showing the contribution
of each economic sector in terms of GHG emissions
over the 1990 and 2008 period. This information is
crucial in preparing future scenarios on the emissions
behavior of these sectors. The state’s emissions scenario
through 2020 will serve as the basis for defining
industry goals in our state, including, for example, the
capacity to reduce GHG in industrial processes already
installed, expansion trends of emissions for each sector
in the economy, investment costs, the potential of
voluntary actions, as well as the government’s action
potential in sectors under its direct responsibility.
O Papel – The substitution of fossil fuels for biomass
is another possibility currently available to the
pulp and paper industry. However, government incentives
would be necessary to substitute the technology,
particularly for small companies with outdated processes.
Does the Department of Environment (SMA)
intend to delve into the characteristic details of each
industry segment to seek the best alternatives for the
environment
Covas – The pursuit of sustainable alternatives
in the industrial sector is a constant practice of the
SMA. There already exist facilitated financing mechanisms
for companies with projects that translate
into environmental gains, as is the case with
Economia Verde (Green Economy) being offered by
Nossa Caixa de Desenvolvimento. The initiative is
an innovative measure by the government of São
Paulo to facilitate the action of companies that need
access to funds in order to improve their productive
processes.
Another possibility are the Clean Development
Mechanisms (CDMs), a Kyoto Protocol Flexibilization
instrument for complying with GHG reduction
goals in developed nations, which allows for the
inflow of funds to developing countries (upon presentation
and approval of CDM projects, known as
carbon credits). CDM has been an important ally in
internalizing policies for substituting fossil fuels for
biomass. This is an opportune moment for quick actions
to access international resources. Companies
that are in conformity with the country and state’s
environmental legislation have a wide variety of facilities
for tapping them.
O Papel – What are the goals and how does the
State of São Paulo intend to achieve them
Covas – The State Policy on Climate Change (PEMC)
defines how the process for proposing goals will be for
the State of São Paulo, through Decree #55,947/2010,
which establishes responsibilities for the Policy on
Climate Change’s Management Committee, Climate
Change Council and Department of Environment.
Without a doubt, they will be a set of decisions
that involve a huge responsibility, due to the potential
economic and social repercussions, and cannot
be made unilaterally by one segment in the government.
To define goals for the sector, you need a
broad based debate process that includes the main
sectors of the state’s economy. It should ultimately
be the result of a comprehensive process with decisions
being made as a consensus, with legitimacy
and the possibility of being implemented.
O Papel – Could proof that companies adopt actions
and methods to reduce emissions be a way
to facilitate the process of obtaining environmental
permits Are there any changes expected along
these lines
Covas – In a certain way, the adoption of less polluting
processes and measures that reduce emissions
already facilitate the attainment of environmental licenses.
In specific regards to GHG emissions, it is still
early to say what changes may be made in light of the
commitments and goals being assumed. •
“There already
exist facilitated
financing
mechanisms for
companies with
projects that
translate into
environmental
gains”
junho/june 2011- Revista O Papel
59