During the 4th Meeting of the G20 Bioeconomy Initiative, Minister Luciana Santos emphasizes the role of science and innovation in tackling global challenges and promoting sustainable development.
This Monday (9), the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos, opened the 4th Meeting of the G20 Bioeconomy Initiative, held in Rio de Janeiro, highlighting the importance of the bioeconomy as an essential tool for sustainable development, especially in a context where climate change and environmental disasters are increasingly frequent.
In her opening speech, the minister stressed her concern about recent tragedies, such as the floods in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, mentioned at a previous meeting, and the droughts, wildfires and heatwaves affecting the Amazonia region. "These tragedies impose an even greater responsibility on us to adopt more sustainable forms of production and consumption that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change," said Luciana Santos.
The bioeconomy offers a strategic alternative with the potential for innovation and structural transformation, promoting environmental sustainability, economic competitiveness, social inclusion and territorial cohesion. "It seeks to meet the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its goals, enabling environmental sustainability and job opportunities with equity," she emphasized.
Brasil as the global leader
Luciana Santos also pointed out that Brasil is in a privileged position to lead the development of a sustainable Bioeconomy. With a strong agricultural sector and one of the largest socio-biodiversities in the world, the country combines traditional knowledge with scientific and technological advances, particularly in the areas of biofuel and agricultural research.
"Brasil has an academic sector of global relevance and a tropical agricultural sector based on science, technology and innovation, which makes us the second largest exporter of food in the world. This combination of factors puts the country at the forefront of the decarbonization of industry and the energy transition."
The legacy of the G20 in Brasil
In her speech, Luciana Santos expressed her wish for the Bioeconomy Initiative to be continued during South Africa's presidency of the G20 in 2025. For her, the North-South and South-South cooperation must be strengthened, with the sharing of technologies and the co-development of innovative and sustainable solutions for the Global South's countries.
"Our goal is to ensure that the knowledge and technologies related to the bioeconomy are accessible to everyone, enabling the decarbonization of the economy, the response to new pandemics and the fight against climate change," concluded the minister, reinforcing that scientific diplomacy will be essential to tackle the challenges currently facing humanity.
The 4th Meeting of the G20 Bioeconomy Initiative continues until September 11th in Rio de Janeiro, with discussions focused on building consensus and formulating high-level principles for the development of sustainable policies in the G20 member countries.
