Chamber approves project that regulates carbon market in Brazil; text goes to the Senate

The Chamber of Deputies approved this Thursday (21) the proposal that regulates the carbon market in Brazil (PL 2148/25). The text creates the Brazilian Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading System (SBCE). The project was approved with a score of 299 votes in favor and 103 against.

The opposition tried to obstruct the vote in the Plenary and demanded more debate on the project. “The text was presented, with little time remaining before the vote, without us being able to analyze it more calmly, which is why we voted no”, said André Fernandes (PL-CE).

The rapporteur, deputy Aliel Machado (PV-PR), proposed a text that combines projects discussed in the Chamber with a proposal already approved by the Senate (PL 412/22).

The proposal is part of the green agenda package approved this year in the Chamber, which includes the exploration of wind energy at sea (PL 11247/18) and the production of green hydrogen (PL 2308/23).

Limits and compensation

The project aims to create a limit on greenhouse gas emissions for companies. Those that pollute the most must offset their emissions by purchasing bonds. Those that have not reached the limit will gain shares to be sold on the market.

In the last phase of negotiations, deputy Aliel Machado responded to requests from the Agricultural Parliamentary Front to exclude agribusiness sectors, such as the production of agricultural inputs or raw materials (such as fertilizers, for example), from regulation.

Machado explained that the project is inspired by successful international experiences. In this model, more environmentally efficient companies will have an extra source of resources with bonds. And the most polluting agent, which has exceeded its emissions limit, will have a new source of expenses with the need to purchase compensatory bonds.

“The result of this is a competitive advantage for those who have contributed most to a healthy environment,” he said.

According to the parliamentarian, Brazil is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases: around 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year. The objective of the proposal is to create incentives to curb companies’ emissions and climate impacts.

“We have created mechanisms to encourage, guide and assist economic agents to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this global need, by inhibiting greenhouse gas emissions in production processes or, when it is not possible to inhibit new emissions, by compensating” , he explained. With information from Agência Câmara