Abstract:

Relevant and timely policies at the national level are crucial in promoting the decarbonization of maritime transport. In particular, national action plans (NAPs) to address greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector are valuable tools in strategic policy planning because they provide a structured approach to accomplish objectives. To assist Brazil in crafting its action plan for decarbonizing maritime activities, this report summarizes the August 2022 webinar, “Recommendations to develop a Brazilian Maritime National Action Plan,” hosted by the Instituto Clima e Sociedade. 

Among the highlights are that successful and impactful NAPs should include outside experts in their development, are designed to fit local and regional priorities, and clearly identify roles, responsibilities, and timelines while also including monitoring and evaluation plans. Because Brazil’s fleet is relatively young (around 15 years old), it is advantageous to prioritize technical and operational decarbonization measures and the use of drop-in alternative fuels, as these do not imply changes to the propulsion and supply systems of ships. Additionally, Brazil could pay special attention to decarbonizing supply vessels, which operate only in short-distance transport and are responsible for 37% of the shipping emissions in its Exclusive Economic Zone.