ELLA Policy Brief: Brazil鈥檚 Efforts to Mitigate the Environmental Impacts of Ethanol Production
ELLA is the Evidence and Lessons from Latin America programme
Abstract
Sugarcane cultivation and ethanol production can result in ecosystem damage to the soil, water and atmosphere, all of which cause significant harm to biodiversity and human health. This Brief presents the efforts made by Brazil, Latin America鈥檚 largest ethanol producer, to avoid, mitigate and compensate for these impacts. Ethanol producers, or those assessing whether or not they will implement an ethanol programme, in Africa and Asia could benefit from Brazil鈥檚 lessons learned in order to develop an ethanol production system that is environmentally efficient from the outset.
Key Lessons:
Establishing environmental assessments as a legal requirement for all ethanol producers has led to significant environmental improvements.
Public pressure and environmental awareness have been important in pushing forward policies to mitigate negative environmental impacts of ethanol production.
The strengthening of environmental institutions proved key to effectively supervising compliance with the law.
Reducing waste and emissions has been shown to increase efficiency, productivity and profitability in the ethanol sector.
Citation
Nin么 de Carvalho, P. ELLA Policy Brief: Brazil’s Efforts to Mitigate the Environmental Impacts of Ethanol Production. ELLA, Practical Action Consulting, Lima, Peru (2012) 6 pp.