New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon

The report argues that a 'New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon' (NEA), characterized by zero deforestation and a robust bioeconomy, would provide the most equitable economic growth for Brazil. By 2050, this transition could increase the regional GDP by BRL 40 billion and create 312,000 additional jobs compared to a reference scenario. The study emphasizes that eliminating deforestation alone is insufficient to meet Paris Agreement targets; it must be coupled with the decarbonization of agriculture, livestock, and the energy matrix. The transition requires an estimated BRL 2.56 trillion in additional investment by 2050, representing 1.8% of Brazil's national GDP per year. Key recommendations include removing fossil fuel subsidies, redirecting rural credit toward low-carbon practices, and scaling a bioeconomy based on traditional indigenous knowledge and standing forests.

• A deforestation-free, low-carbon pathway for the Brazilian Amazon would result in higher economic growth and job creation by 2050 than the current trajectory. Specifically, the regional GDP would increase by BRL 40 billion and 312,000 additional jobs would be created compared to the reference scenario.
• Brazil cannot meet its Paris Agreement climate targets (limiting warming to 1.5°C) through energy transition alone; zero deforestation is a mandatory requirement, which must then be combined with the decarbonization of the energy matrix and agricultural/livestock sectors.
• The transition to the New Economy for the Brazilian Amazon requires an additional BRL 2.56 trillion in investments by 2050, totaling 1.8% of Brazil's national GDP per year. This includes BRL 659 billion for strategic land use, BRL 410 billion for the energy matrix, and BRL 1.49 trillion for induced infrastructure.
• The current economy of the Legal Amazon is characterized by a commercial deficit of BRL 114 billion (based on 2015 data) and a high reliance on exporting low-value primary products. Furthermore, 83% of deforestation in the region is driven by demand from the rest of Brazil and international markets.
• The Amazon bioeconomy is currently underestimated in national accounts due to informality but already generates an annual Gross Value of Production of BRL 15 billion. Under the NEA scenario, the bioeconomy's GDP in the Legal Amazon could reach BRL 38.5 billion by 2050, employing 947,000 people.
• 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, positioning Belo Monte as the last major project of its kind.

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} }