The Green Economy in the G-20, Post-Mexico: Implications for Brazil

This research paper examines the tension between the 'green growth' agenda promoted by Mexico and the 'sustainable development' concept advocated by Brazil during the 2012 G-20 summit. It analyzes how Brazil's domestic industrial and energy policies often conflict with green economy goals due to a preference for autonomous industrialization and short-term economic growth, while also assessing Brazil's diplomatic coordination with other BRICS nations on climate issues.

• During the 2012 G-20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, a conceptual conflict emerged between Mexico's promotion of a 'green growth' agenda and Brazil's preference for 'sustainable development'. The resulting compromise was the adoption of the motto 'Promoting long-term prosperity through inclusive growth', which allowed Brazil to include references to 'inclusive growth' and 'poverty eradication' and to express concerns regarding the potential for 'protectionist measures' within the green growth framework.
• Brazilian policymakers generally perceive the green economy and green growth concepts as normative tools created by developed nations that may create new international asymmetries. There is a significant domestic trade-off where environmental and climate objectives are often relegated to a 'second-tier priority' compared to economic and social goals, driven by the 'Brasilia Consensus' which views environmental restrictions as obstacles to rapid economic growth.
• Brazil's historical success in mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions was primarily linked to reducing deforestation, which accounted for approximately half of total emissions at the start of the century. However, as deforestation decreased, the relative share of emissions from energy, industry, agribusiness, and waste increased. By 2010, the emission profile shifted to 35% from deforestation, 32% from energy, 25% from agriculture, 5% from industry, and 3% from waste.
• Brazil's industrial and energy policies are often inconsistent with green economy goals. For example, the state-owned oil company Petrobras has subsidized fossil fuels, which has negatively impacted the ethanol sector. Additionally, the discovery of 'pre-salt' offshore oilfields is expected to strengthen economic interests linked to fossil fuels and increase opposition to a green energy transition.
• The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) focuses primarily on the quantitative expansion of physical investments and local content, which the paper argues can deepen the 'path dependence effect' and favor 'dirty technologies' over clean ones. While BNDES manages the Fundo Amazonia, only 15% of its budget had been spent as of May 9, 2013, due to bureaucratic delays and difficulties in project structuring.
• Coordination among BRICS countries regarding the green economy within the G-20 is described as 'almost nonexistent' or 'limited'. The primary objective for these nations has been to avoid mandates or commitments that would cause discomfort to member states. While Brazil supports the G-20 fossil fuel subsidy initiative and claims to have no inefficient subsidies (except for coal power plants to be eliminated by 2027), other members like India have declined to participate in the peer-review process.

APA

Veiga, P. D. M., & Rios, S. P. (2013). The Green Economy in the G-20, Post-Mexico: Implications for Brazil. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Occasional-Paper-163.pdf

Chicago

Veiga, Pedro da Motta, and Sandra Polónia Rios. The Green Economy in the G-20, Post-Mexico: Implications for Brazil. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2013. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Occasional-Paper-163.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Veiga |first1=Pedro da Motta |last2=Rios |first2=Sandra Polónia |title=The Green Economy in the G-20, Post-Mexico: Implications for Brazil |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=November 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Occasional-Paper-163.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{veiga2013green, author = {Veiga, Pedro da Motta and Rios, Sandra Polónia}, title = {{The Green Economy in the G-20, Post-Mexico: Implications for Brazil}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Occasional-Paper-163.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }