The type of development promoted by Brazilian National Biofuels Policy

Abstract

Brazil has implemented the national biofuels policy (RenovaBio), which consists of a government policy targeted to recognize the strategic role of biofuels usage to reach a sustainable energy matrix. Thus, the objective of this study was to verify if RenovaBio policy reflects its objective from the sustainable development point of view. Content analysis was used to identify the perceptions of the players involved in the sustainable development bill on public queries about RenovaBio’s goals. Next, the Brazilian fuel market data was collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regressions. Results showed that RenovaBio presents positive economic and environmental development characteristics since it expands the biofuels market and promotes the reduction of Greenhouse Gases. However, economic and social gaps were evidenced, provoked by poor planning, mostly related to the decarbonization credits market (CBIOs) and the lack of isonomy among the players, the main sources of the insecurity of the policy. Furthermore, it was evidenced that the lack of energy planning compromises the program’s sustainability, which is linked to biofuels produced from food commodities, such as sugar ethanol. Finally, results showed an increase in the demand for biofuels. This increase is not related to price and it is not sufficient to fulfill the program’s goals, which is another compromised characteristic of RenovaBio policy.