G20 member countries defined principles to reconcile development and sustainability with solutions based on nature, one of the central agendas in this edition of the Forum. Discussions took place at the G20 Bioeconomy Initiative, proposed by Brasil's G20 Presidency.
Record temperatures, wildfires, dry weather, floods - the effects of climate change are increasingly close to global daily life. Seeking nature-based solutions, with global coordination to implement them, is one of the central themes of the various G20 meetings. Among them is the Bioeconomy initiative, which brings together representatives of the world's largest economies.
Bioeconomy is a concept that associates economic development with environmental protection. Imagine an economy that is not dependent only on the use of fossil energy sources, or that relies on clean energy and minimizes the damage caused to nature. In a nutshell, sustainable development using renewable biological resources instead of fossil fuels and other resources that degrade the environment.
In practical terms, when you are recycling a package, reusing a bottle or wearing biodegradable clothing, you are already contributing to the Bioeconomy.
At the final meeting of the G20 on Bioeconomy, held in September in Rio de Janeiro, participants presented the "Ten voluntary and non-binding High-Level Principles on Bioeconomy ." Some of the proposals are including indigenous peoples in the debate, sharing good practices among countries, creating "comparable, measurable and context-specific methodologies to assess sustainability throughout all value chains", and promoting the restoration and regeneration of degraded areas and ecosystems. Although a G20 member is not required to apply these principles, as they are voluntary and non-binding, all members have agreed to implement them.
Currently, the bioeconomy represents 25% of Brasil's Gross Domestic Product, according to a study by FGV (Getulio Vargas Foundation). And Brasil has announced in August the creation of a National Strategy for Bioeconomy to formulate guidelines for the theme. A National Plan for the Bioeconomy is also planned to promote bioindustrialization and other actions.
At the G20, the discussions on Bioeconomy are divided into three thematic axes, namely: Science, Technology and Innovation for the bioeconomy; Sustainable use of biodiversity for the bioeconomy; The role of the bioeconomy in promoting sustainable development. The proposals seek to reconcile development, sustainability, traditional knowledge and global parameters for tackling with climate change.
The Brazilian Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, emphasized the need to envision an intersectional Bioeconomy that, in practice, permeates various public administration sectors and is not solely the responsibility of the Ministries of Environment in each country.
According to Marina, the lack of international parameters hinders a coordinated global effort on a topic that can greatly contribute to a "new model of development" based on ecological transition. For the minister, actions promoting the Bioeconomy must also be carried out by governments, with cooperation and global parameters for a new development model.
By Everton Victor, Julia Lima, Letícia Santana. Content originally published by the Scientific News Agency of the Rio de Janeiro State University (Agenc)
