José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade Guerra

Energy production and sustainability: A study of Belo Monte hydroelectric power plant

The increase in energy demand due to economic and population growth necessitates the expansion of the Brazilian energy supply. Hydropower energy, a renewable energy source, arguably clean, presents an energy solution for many countries such as Brazil, with large hydric reservoirs, which help them reduce energy dependence on fossil and imported fuel sources. However, it must be emphasized that without careful planning, the creation of hydropower plants will cause severe social and environmental damage due to the large areas that need to be flooded for the implementation of these plants. The installation of hydropower plants floods vast forest areas, causing loss of biodiversity, displacement of native Brazilian people and riverside populations, and changes to the water acid levels and the natural course of rivers. To mitigate these effects, authorities must first conduct a study on installation possibilities and potential socio‐environmental consequences, to be interpreted and used by the agents involved. Aiming to analyze the social‐environmental impacts of the hydropower plants, this research seeks to investigate the capacity of mitigation of the negative effects of the implementation of the hydropower plants, specifically with regard to the Belo Monte plant, Brazil.

Contributions of Public Policies to Greening Sugarcane Ethanol Production in Brazil

The development of a green economy is key to achieve sustainable development. Investing in greening the energy sector contributes to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions while helping to develop a more resilient economy. Public policies have a role in driving the biofuel sector towards a more sustainable path, reducing its environmental footprint and enhancing its economic, environmental and social benefits. The aim of this study is to analyse how public policies can contribute to greening the ethanol sector in Brazil. To accomplish this objective, a review of the economic characteristics of the Brazilian ethanol sector was conducted, based on official documents and reports, policies and on scientific studies. Then, a review of Brazilian public policies was conduced to analyse how public polices influence the sustainable production of the Brazilian ethanol sector. Brazilian bioenergy policies have contributed to establish a green biofuel sector, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing the efficiency in sugarcane production, creating jobs and improving air quality in cities.

Understanding food security and international security links in the context of climate change

Abstract Food production has been changing significantly in recent years as a result of climate change and of growing demand for food. This article aims to understand the link between food security and international security in the context of climate change, applying a systematic and qualitative analysis of the literature using the bibliometric method. This research observes that climate change tends to affect agricultural productivity, exposing societies to risk and the need for migration. However, good governance, together with international cooperation, can reduce the hazards of food insecurity, strengthening ties between countries and stimulating a fairer and more inclusive form of international trade.

The Role of the University in Promoting Photovoltaic Usage in Brazil

This paper examines Brazil’s progress toward solar photovoltaic (PV) usage via university involvement in its propagation, and through a case study of the REGSA project’s PV installation initiative at an elementary school in Rancho Queimado, Santa Catarina. This pilot project aims to add social and economic benefits to the local community and disseminate renewable energy knowhow. The experience is used to analyze a range of traditional policy approaches used in stimulating PV usage in the Brazilian context. The paper assesses the applicability of a feed-in tariff, renewable portfolio standards, tax incentives, and more favorable financing schemes for solar energy in Brazil. Finally, through the lens of REGSA’s Rancho Queimado PV installation, the paper considers the above scenarios and the role of universities or other institutions in promoting renewable energy diversification and PV installation. Given the incipient nature of PV presence and familiarity in Brazil, universities are examined as a possible conduit for encouragement and PV suitability assessment among industries and developers in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. Comparisons of electricity consumption levels among major regional industries aim to determine which local energy consumers may be most predisposed to complement with individual generation.

Energy Efficiency in the Adoption of Renewable Energies in Schools

The Brazilian population is increasingly implementing energy efficiency actions across the country. The initiative dates from 2000, when Law 9991 (Lei 9991, 2000) and Decree 3867 (Decreto N° 3867, 2001a) were enacted by the Federal Government to regulate investments in research and development and energy efficiency as activity required by the oil companies, licensees and authorized electricity sector. Law 10295 (Lei 10295, 2001) regulated the National Policy for the Conservation and Rational Use of Energy. The different actions proposed to combat electricity waste throughout the country aim to establish an institutional basis for setting priorities, support, coordinate and monitor actions to ensure the rational use of electric power and, as a result, to optimize efficiency. The purpose of such measures is to facilitate the use of the same product or service with lower energy consumption, eliminating waste and ensuring overall reduction of costs and investments in new power system facilities. The fight against waste and the pursuit of efficient use of various forms of energy, especially from renewable sources, should be encouraged, since they will allow savings and contribute to environmental preservation. In this chapter, the authors intended to demonstrate the progress in implementing new sources of sustainable energy, because, according to the Brazilian constitution, everyone has the right to an ecologically balanced environment, an asset of common use and essential to a healthy quality of life. It is the duty of the Government and society to defend and preserve it for present and future generations. This chapter also presents the application of energy efficiency strategies within the context of the REGSA project (Promoting Renewable Electricity Generation in South America), which supports an elementary school in a rural area. The energy efficiency project includes the use of a solar water heating system made of PET bottles, wind power, and a micro-hydroelectric system installed in a stream. Five classrooms and a library will benefit from these techniques, which will bring a more comfortable environment for the students and teachers.

Urban Agriculture Practices as Initiatives for Mitigation and Adaptation to Climate Change: Possibilities for Urban Farms in a South American City

Urbanization has become one of the main challenges of modern societies. Therefore, transforming urban areas to sustainable environments is strategic for mitigating and adapting to climate change. Florianopolis—the case of this study—is a South American city that in the next 30 years will double its population, the city already suffers from bad urban management, therefore solutions that combine social, environmental and economic aspects are necessary for achieving sustainable development. The city has begun some programs for urban agriculture and greater efforts are possible. Today, urban agriculture can provide ways of increasing community integration, decreasing greenhouse gases emissions, improving the urban waste management and revitalizing the local economy. This paper highlights urban agriculture practices applied in different cities of the world and how they relate with the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting an exchange of ideas and experiences among researchers, the community and the local government.

The Challenges of Implementing Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil: An Analysis Based on the Outcomes of the Brazilian Millennium Development Goals

This article discusses the importance and influence of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Brazilian context, and makes a comparison of the converging aspects between them. The Brazilian performance regarding the MDGs is fundamental for identifying the challenges of the SDGs implementation in this country. The data presented is based on the Fifth National Monitoring Report of the Millennium Development Goals launched in 2014. These results show that Brazil has succeeded in some aspects. However, it has not reached some of MDGs’ targets that had a fixed due date for 2015, such as achieving a universal primary education; promoting gender equality and empowering women; improving maternal health; combating HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; and ensuring environmental sustainability. Therefore, these goals are present in SDGs’ targets, and are characterized as strategic challenges for Brazil in order to achieve the SDGs by 2030.

Environmental Justice and Climate Change Adaptation in the Context of Risk Society

The latest surveys show the importance of Environmental Justice in order to guarantee the rights of marginalized parts of society to live in a healthier environment and to provide equal treatment for people regardless of race, nationality, gender or income. Following the context of risk society, this article provides a literature review that aims to identify the importance of environmental justice in achieving climate change adaptation. Through a qualitative and interdisciplinary approach, the research illustrates how interconnected climate change adaptation, risk societies and environmental justice are, in the interest of drawing attention of stakeholders and decision-makers to the distinct levels of impact that climate change has on the various sectors of society. Overall, the study emphasize that climate change adaptation strategies can often be discriminatory. By having parts of the society vulnerable to climate change impacts, the pathway towards adaptation will never be fully reached. The course to prevent those issues from being even more aggravated is to address climate change adaptation in a way that enables to benefit all groups of society by providing the information and resources for the adaptation of those living in the margins.

Promotion of Sustainable Development at Universities: The Adoption of Green Campus Strategies at the University of Southern Santa Catarina, Brazil

Universities, as knowledge institutions, play an important and strategic role on maximizing the social and economic benefits of new ideas. This paper aims to analyze the main sustainable practices of a Green Campus and subsequently points out the guidelines to implement a sustainable environmental management in the University of Southern Santa Catarina, Brazil, involving academic activities and the Campus infrastructure. The University of Southern Santa Catarina has been developing global partnerships encouraging the scientific production and sustainability practices to make it an example of Green Campus in South America.

Education for Sustainable Development and Its Role in the Promotion of the Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals emerged as universal goals aiming to promote more inclusive societies, fighting inequalities and recognizing the importance of cooperation. Based on a human rights approach, the idea is to pursue sustainable development along with human development, stressing the importance of each of the 17 goals set by the 2030 Agenda and how interconnected they all are. At the same time, Education for Sustainable Development is pursuing similar goals, including gender equality, health promotion and climate change action. The main purpose of this paper is to understand how Education for Sustainable Development can assist in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition to a literature review, a discussion is conducted from the presentation of each Sustainable Development Goal and how they can be explored through education. As a safe environment, Education Institutions are a platform that should be used for debates, especially the ones related to the challenges society has to face in the future. In this context, Education for Sustainable Development carries important tools to enable the learners not only to be prepared for what their lives and career will require, but also to contribute for a more sustainable development and to take conscious decisions. To address the challenges within the Sustainable Development Goals requires only the willingness of education leaders and stakeholders to adjust their curricula and engage the teaching body towards the change our world demands.