Low-carbon future could save Brazilian city billions
Posted on 25 Feb 2016 in Announcements
A new CCCEP-led report on the Brazilian city of Recife has led to the city adopting ambitious targets for low-carbon development.
Energy use in the rapidly-growing metropolis is forecast to almost double by 2030 compared to 2014, with emissions set to increase by 80 per cent in the same period.
But the new study reveals advancing climate-friendly policies could yield extensive rewards. Cost-effective investment in low-carbon development could cut emissions by a quarter compared to business-as-usual trends, and reduce the city’s energy bill by $585 million annually.
Reinvesting the savings in further cost-neutral measures would see emissions drop by almost a third compared with business as normal.
The report, produced by CCCEP deputy director Andy Gouldson and his team in collaboration with ICLEI Brazil, analysed current and future energy trends and a wide variety of energy-saving measures in the buildings, transport and waste sectors.
It found that although substantial investment would be needed, the results would be impressive: Due to continued development and an increasing population, Recife’s emissions would still rise overall, but by just 23 per cent over 2014 levels instead of 80 per cent.
The project – which was funded by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and conducted with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability – has led to the city embracing ambitious new targets for low-carbon development. It has also seen the adoption of low carbon measures in the transport and waste sectors and to the adoption of a new code for sustainable buildings.
The report was launched on February 25 in Fortaleza, Brazil.
Read the report here:-