Andrea Souza Santos

The climate emergency necessitates the rapid implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies, particularly in urban transport, which accounts for approximately 47% of energy-related emissions in Brazil. This study aims to analyze how Brazilian cities are operationalizing climate actions by examining the "Urban Climate Initiative Mapping" from the Ministry of Cities. The research specifically investigates the stage of implementation of these actions, identifies synergies and tradeoffs, and evaluates their alignment with Brazil’s National Climate Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The methodology employs a qualitativeanalytical approach, utilizing a two-stage filtering process to isolate 26 transportspecific initiatives from a broader federal database. These initiatives were coded across three dimensions: intervention type, maturity level, and policy coherence. Key findings reveal that while most initiatives are in the initial or "ongoing" stages, specific projects demonstrate measurable impacts, such as the "Ecomilhas" platform, which has avoided 244,650 tons of CO2, and the LEED-certified Anália Franco Station, which reduced emissions by 214.61 tons. The analysis identifies a predominant focus on active mobility (bike lanes and sidewalks) and the early-stage electrification of bus fleets in cities like Curitiba and Camaçari. Furthermore, the paper provides evidence for the potential of upscaling and replication within the BRICS framework, citing the 2025 BRICS Ministerial Declaration and the BRICS Climate Partnership as guiding policy structures. It argues that Brazil’s low-cost active mobility models are highly transferable to densely populated cities in countries like India and South Africa, which face similar structural gaps in transport capacity. The study concludes that while institutional gaps in GHG accounting persist, these local initiatives offer a scalable foundation for resilient, low-carbon urban transition across emerging economies.

The intensification of climate change-related risks to port infrastructure presents an unprecedented challenge for global logistics systems, particularly in trade corridors linked to the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Given the BRI's extensive reach and influence, this article examines how key ports along the maritime route, including Djibouti, Gwadar, Hambantota, Piraeus, Mombasa, and, more recently, Chancay in Peru, have responded to climate vulnerabilities and adopted adaptive strategies. The central hypothesis is that these ports, due to their strategic relevance in global supply chains, can serve as platforms for building climate alliances that foster alignment between port development and sustainability objectives. Based on a document and exploratory review, our analysis identifies a growing body of scholarly work connecting the BRI to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting the socio-environmental and socio-economic implications of such interventions. The recent inauguration of the Port of Chancay in 2024 marks a turning point in South America's integration into China's maritime network, signaling a historical shift toward a more multipolar and cooperative global order. In the Brazilian context, bilateral partnerships with China, particularly through the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), reflect the country's integration into this broader process of logistical reconfiguration and port adaptation in response to climate challenges.

Nowadays power systems of countries undergo serious changes caused by passing to sustainable electric power sources. The process of power transfer in the world is rather irregular, which affects social and economic processes all over the world. Investment into power projects shall be planned due to numerous reasons, including economic and finance ones. This article provides an approach to planning investment into electric power stations working on sustainable sources of electric power, such as SES, VES, GES and AES. In spite of the problem importance, not so many works have been published in this field. On the basis of advanced model of analyzing time series estimation of necessary investment was done to reach the set goals in two BRICS countries: Russia and Brazil. The research showed similarities and differences in power systems of two countries and dynamics of electric power generation on sustainable sources. Brazil is one of global leaders by the share of sustainable sources of energy in the power balance and it continues fast development in all types of sustainable power. Russia also shows high dynamics of development in certain types of sustainable power engineering. The approach demonstrated in the article proves its effectiveness and can be used to forecast electric power generation and investment into building necessary capacities for the period of 1-3 years.

O artigo analisa criticamente o Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), iniciativa liderada pelo Brasil e lançada na COP30 como mecanismo de financiamento climático voltado à conservação de florestas tropicais em contexto de perda florestal e crise dos instrumentos de crédito de carbono. A pesquisa adota abordagem descritiva e analítica, apoiada em documentos oficiais e literatura sobre financiamento climático, bens públicos globais, fundos permanentes, justiça climática e financeirização da natureza. A gênese política do TFFF e o papel do protagonismo brasileiro na formulação e internacionalização da proposta são reconstruídos, com detalhamento de arquitetura financeira, mecanismos de governança, critérios de elegibilidade e regras de repartição de benefícios para povos indígenas e comunidades tradicionais, em comparação com instrumentos como REDD, mercados voluntários de carbono e fundos florestais existentes. Os resultados indicam que o TFFF incorpora inovações como meta de capitalização de 125 bilhões de dólares em fundo patrimonial, pagamentos recorrentes por hectare conservado, maior previsibilidade de fluxos financeiros e reconhecimento da centralidade dos países tropicais na proteção de bem público global. Também são identificados riscos associados a metodologias de monitoramento, assimetrias de poder na governança, possibilidade de greenwashing, desafios de capitalização e exposição à volatilidade financeira, além de limites de um instrumento ancorado na lógica do capital para enfrentar problema produzido por essa mesma lógica. Conclui-se que o TFFF pode representar avanço na arquitetura de financiamento florestal e oportunidade de reforço do protagonismo brasileiro na governança climática, desde que condicionado a transparência, salvaguardas socioambientais robustas e participação de países florestais e comunidades locais.

The increasing demand for transportation has created economic, social, and environmental challenges that sustainable mobility solutions can help address. Electric vehicles (EVs) represent a promising alternative by lowering greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency. However, EV adoption remains limited due to barriers such as high costs, insufficient charging infrastructure, technological constraints, and low consumer awareness. This study aims to identify and classify the main barriers to EV adoption and propose a prioritization framework to guide decision-makers in resource allocation and policy design. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify barriers to EV adoption, which were grouped into six thematic categories: vehicle-related, battery-related, charging infrastructure, energy supply, personal and behavioral, and governance and policy. A degree of impact (DI) metric was developed to quantify each barrier’s influence, allowing hierarchical classification. The results highlight that inadequate charging infrastructure, high purchase and maintenance costs, limited public knowledge, and long charging times are the most critical issues. The proposed framework will help policymakers, industry leaders, and energy providers focus their efforts on the most impactful barriers. This research supports the global shift toward sustainable mobility and contributes to the literature by introducing a quantitative method for ranking barriers, addressing a gap in previous studies that lacked prioritization.

The article discusses the growing need to restructure urban mobility in response to population growth and the limitations of conventional infrastructure. Based on a systematized literature review, this study aims to investigate On-Demand Mobility (MoD) as a central strategy for achieving more sustainable urban mobility. The methodology involved a critical analysis of national and international publications addressing the environmental, social, and economic aspects of MoD. The core of the discussion lies in the observation that, by enabling vehicle sharing and optimizing urban resources, MoD can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants, and demand for urban space, while also promoting social inclusion and multimodality. Finally, the article suggests directions for future research, highlighting the importance of technological advancement, intermodal planning, and the development of public policies aimed at expanding accessibility and equity in urban mobility.

In the coming decades, maritime transport will undergo significant transformations driven by climatic and economic factors. The rise in sea levels, as highlighted in the IPCC report (AR6), poses a threat to coastal infrastructures, necessitating urgent adaptations. To mitigate climate-induced risks, it will be essential to expand port handling areas, adapt existing facilities, and develop new ones, considering shifts and the emergence of new maritime routes. These challenges present an opportunity to design and construct more resilient ports, ensuring the sustainability of future global trade. This article aims to investigate port adaptation to climate change, focusing on the expansion of handling areas and the resilience of infrastructures. It explores the emergence of new maritime routes and their implications, analyzing how rising sea levels impact major global routes and infrastructures. The article proposes guidelines for developing resilient infrastructures capable of maintaining global trade flows and adapting to new dynamics. By identifying gaps in current research and practices, it suggests areas for future studies that can contribute to formulating effective adaptation policies and strategies.

Climate change poses substantial challenges to the transportation sector due to its high vulnerability to adverse weather conditions and extreme events, which directly impact infrastructure longevity and operational safety. This study examines the critical need to integrate climate considerations into the planning and execution of transportation infrastructure projects through comprehensive and methodologically rigorous Climate Risk Analysis (CRA). Various CRA methodologies are analyzed, highlighting their advantages and limitations, as well as the importance of an integrated approach that encompasses resilience, sustainability, and climate justice. The study also discusses the economic impacts of adaptation strategies and explores the challenges and opportunities developing countries face. The research concludes that a holistic and adaptive approach is essential to addressing the complex challenges posed by climate change to the transportation sector, promoting risk mitigation and sustainable and inclusive adaptation.

The energy transition is intricately linked to social well-being and poverty reduction, as these objectives are unfeasible without improvements in environmental conditions. The energy sector has been a focal point for China, evidenced by intensified commercial ties and cooperation with Latin American. This chapter aims to elucidate China’s role in Latin America’s energy transition, examining Chinese interests in terms of energy security, social progress, and environmental advancements. China’s achievements stem from a strategic approach and consistent investments. Latin America represents a relatively small fraction of the units financed by Chinese investors, with 19 bilateral agreements signed, four of which pertain to renewable energy, including two joint action plans. In recent years, the region has quadrupled its solar energy generation capacity, from 363 megawatts to approximately 1.4 gigawatts, and wind capacity doubling from 1.6 to 3.2 gigawatts. Predominantly, Chinese investments in the region are focused on Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. In addition to Latin America’s biodiversity and geographic complexity, its location on the continent is an additional point of interest. It offers an alternative route for the transportation of oil and other products in the event of political and military tensions at the current main transit points destined for China. The rise of neoliberal governments has led to policies that undermine the state’s control over its resources, resulting in conflicts within the energy sector. While the Chinese model cannot be directly replicated, it provides pathways for exploration and adaptation, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders.