New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon

The 'New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon' report by WRI Brasil proposes a transition to a low-carbon, deforestation-free economic model for the Legal Amazon by 2050. The study argues that this pathway, which integrates a thriving bioeconomy, restored forests, and decarbonized agriculture and energy, would deliver superior economic growth and job creation compared to business-as-usual scenarios while enabling Brazil to meet its Paris Agreement targets.

• A low-carbon, deforestation-free economic pathway for the Brazilian Amazon, termed the 'New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon' (NEA), is projected to provide the most equitable economic growth for the region and Brazil. By 2050, this scenario would increase the Brazilian Amazon economy's GDP by BRL 40 billion over the reference scenario and create 312,000 additional jobs.
• The report asserts that eliminating deforestation alone is insufficient for Brazil to meet its Paris Agreement climate targets; it must also decarbonize the energy matrix and the agriculture and livestock sectors. Under the NEA scenario, Brazil would reduce emissions by 94% and maintain 81 million more hectares of standing forest than under a business-as-usual trajectory.
• The transition to the New Economy requires an additional investment of BRL 2.56 trillion by 2050, representing 1.8% of Brazil's national GDP per year. This is only 0.8% more than the reference scenario. These investments are distributed across strategic land use (BRL 659 billion), energy matrix changes (BRL 410 billion), and induced infrastructure (BRL 1.49 trillion).
• The Amazon's bioeconomy is currently underestimated by official national accounts due to informality. Using the IOM-Alpha method, the study finds the bioeconomy already generates an annual Gross Value of Production (GVP) of BRL 15 billion in the Legal Amazon, with Par accounting for 73% of the region's bioeconomy wage bill. In the NEA scenario, the bioeconomy's GDP would reach BRL 38.5 billion by 2050.
• Analysis of the Legal Amazon's current economy reveals a commercial deficit of BRL 114 billion in trade with the rest of Brazil. Furthermore, 83% of deforestation in the Legal Amazon is driven by external demand from other Brazilian regions and international trade, rather than internal regional demand.
• The proposed energy transition for the region focuses on photovoltaic systems, which would generate 55% of the 131 TWh demanded by the Legal Amazon in 2050. The plan excludes the expansion of hydroelectric power plants, designating Belo Monte as the last major project of its kind in the region.

APA

Nobre, C. A., Feltran-Barbieri, R., Costa, F. D. A., Haddad, E. A., Schaeffer, R., Domingues, E. P., Frasson, C. M. R., Camuri, P., Genin, C., Szklo, A., Lucena, A. F. P., Fernandes, D. A., Silva, H., Ventura, R., Folhes, R. T., Fiorini, A. C. O., Rocha, A. M., Santos, A. J. L., Junior, A. B. D. R. K., ... Barbosa, V. (2023). New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon. World Resources Institute. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-06/new-economy-brazil-amazon-executive-summary-english.pdf

Chicago

Nobre, Carlos A., Rafael Feltran-Barbieri, Francisco de Assis Costa, Eduardo A. Haddad, Roberto Schaeffer, Edson Paulo Domingues, Caroline Medeiros Rocha Frasson, et al. New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon. World Resources Institute, 2023. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-06/new-economy-brazil-amazon-executive-summary-english.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Nobre |first1=Carlos A. |last2=Feltran-Barbieri |first2=Rafael |last3=Costa |first3=Francisco de Assis |last4=Haddad |first4=Eduardo A. |last5=Schaeffer |first5=Roberto |last6=Domingues |first6=Edson Paulo |last7=Frasson |first7=Caroline Medeiros Rocha |last8=Camuri |first8=Paulo |last9=Genin |first9=Carolina |display-authors=etal |title=New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=June 2023 |url=https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-06/new-economy-brazil-amazon-executive-summary-english.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{nobre2023new, author = {Nobre, Carlos A. and Feltran-Barbieri, Rafael and Costa, Francisco de Assis and Haddad, Eduardo A. and Schaeffer, Roberto and Domingues, Edson Paulo and Frasson, Caroline Medeiros Rocha and Camuri, Paulo and Genin, Carolina and Szklo, Alexandre and Lucena, Andre F. P. and Fernandes, Danilo Araújo and Silva, Harley and Ventura, Raul and Folhes, Ricardo Theophilo and Fiorini, Ana Carolina Oliveira and Rocha, Ademir M. and Santos, Alberto José Leandro and Junior, Aldebaro Barreto da Rocha Klautau and Magalhães, Aline Souza and Vinhoza, Amanda and Vianna, André Luiz Menezes and Bassi, Andrea M. and Abelém, Antônio Jorge Gomes and Baniwa, Braulina and Felin, Bruno and Callegari, Camila Ludovique and Blener, Carlos and Branco, David Castelo and Castro, Ellen Claudine Cardoso and Pantoja, Eugênio and Perobelli, Fernando S. and Apurinã, Francisco and Folhes, Gabriel Pisa and da Silva, Gabriela Nascimento and Savian, Gabriela and Pallaske, Georg and Angelkorte, Gerd Brantes and Branco, Gil Castello and Martins, Heron and Wei, Huang Ken and Vicente, Iara and Araújo, Inácio F and Santos, Inaiê Takaes and Ferreira, Jefferson F. and Pereira, Joana Portugal and Sá, João Daniel Macedo and Buzati, Jordano and Sass, Karina S. and de Souza, Kênia Barreiro and Barbosa, Leonardo and Garrido, Leonardo and de Souza, Leticia Magalar Martins and Soares, Leticia Rodrigues and Ferraz, Lucas Paiva and Carvalho, Lucas Silva and Lanaro, Lucca and Alves, Luciana and Baptista, Luiz Bernardo and Guzzetti, Marco and Enriquez, Maria Amélia and Mury, Maria Eduarda Senna and Império, Mariana and Oliveira, Mariana and Lopes, Mariana Padilha Campos and Lobato, Marília Gabriela Silva and Salomon, Marta and Rampini, Pedro Filipe Campos and Rochedo, Pedro R. R. and Guerra, Raissa and Reis, Rodney Rooney Salomão and Barreiros, Rogger Mathaus Magalhães and Tanure, Tarik Marques do Prado and Carvalho, Terciane Sabadini and Simonato, Thiago Cavalcante and Barbosa, Virgínia}, title = {{New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-06/new-economy-brazil-amazon-executive-summary-english.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }