Sustainability moves the G20 Brasil
Cars powered by ethanol and hybrids, which run on electricity, will transport international delegations during the G20 events. Agreement between the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Unica reinforces Brasil's leadership in energy transitions and ensures the use of renewable and clean energy as the fuel source for the G20’s official vehicle fleet.
The transportation of official delegations participating in the G20 Brasil events throughout the year will only occur in hybrid and flex-fuel vehicles. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MRE) has closed an agreement with Unica - the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry and Bioenergy Association, to provide the vehicles that will be used for the G20 meetings during the Brazilian presidency of the Group.
The initiative will be launched during the chancellors' meeting that will take place in Rio de Janeiro on February 21 and 22 and reinforces the need for and importance of using clean energy sources such as Brazilian ethanol, known to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly.
The event in Rio will count on around 80 vehicles powered by ethanol. After the meeting, the fleet will be transferred to São Paulo, where it will transport the delegations participating in the meeting of ministers of Finance and Central Bank governors from February 26 to 29.
This cooperation foresees the fleet’s expansion throughout 2024, aiming to increase the percentage of cars powered exclusively by ethanol and flexible hybrid vehicles (which also use electric energy). The use of these cars is expected to achieve its apex during the G20 Summit, which will gather the heads of State and Government from the world’s major economies on November 18 and 19 in Rio de Janeiro.
Brazilian priority
Promoting sustainable, just, and inclusive development is one of the priorities of Brasil’s G20 Presidency, the country being the one with the most renewable energy matrix among the largest economies in the world.
“Ethanol is a 100% Brazilian product. While the world is still progressing towards the development of actions for mobility that reduce CO2 emissions, Brasil has a sustainable biofuel ready, which has been used by its population for decades,” highlighted the president of Unica, Evandro Gussi.
Brasil has been producing and using biofuels for around 40 years, making a significant contribution to reducing the transportation sector emissions. In addition, the country uses one of the largest percentages of ethanol in the composition of its gasoline. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, the world would need to triple the biofuel supply by 2030 to zero the liquid emissions of greenhouse effect emissions from the transportation sector. This would require global production to grow an average of 17% per year for the next six years.
The partnership between the MRE and Unica was established in the context of the Global Alliance for Biofuels, launched parallel to the latest G20 Summit in September 2023, in India. The Alliance gathers 19 countries and 12 international organizations intending to globally foster sustainable production and use of biofuels. Brasil, the United States, and India, the three largest producers of ethanol, were present during its launch.