“The global demand for carbon credits will grow exponentially,” says Roberto Azevêdo

Roberto Azevêdo, Global President of Ambipar (Photo: Kym Willer / Lide).

Global President of Operations at Ambipar and former Director-General of the WTO, he highlighted Brazil’s potential in this market.

247 – During the LIDE Brazil Conference Lisbon, Ambassador Roberto Azevêdo, current Global President of Operations at Ambipar and former Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), provided a pragmatic analysis of sustainability and the carbon credits market. In his presentation, Azevêdo stated, “The global demand for carbon credits will grow exponentially,” emphasizing that Brazil has the potential to stand out in this scenario due to its natural advantages and clean energy infrastructure.

Azevêdo began his speech by stressing that the transition to a green and circular economy is no longer an option but a necessity. “Sustainability is not an escapable narrative without foundation; it is a concrete reality already shaping policies and business practices,” he said. He recalled that as early as 2011, while serving as Ambassador to the WTO, carbon border adjustments were being debated, although many at the time considered the idea unfeasible. “I told everyone: this will happen. It’s a matter of time. And it did,” he stated, referring to the adoption of policies taxing carbon emissions to equalize costs among countries.

Challenges and Perspectives in the Carbon Market

With experience in major corporations such as Pepsico, Azevêdo shared how companies are adapting to new sustainability demands. He explained that net-zero emission targets often rely on carbon credits, whether internally (inset) or outside the production chain (offset). “Achieving net-zero emissions without compensation mechanisms is virtually impossible for most companies and economic sectors,” he observed.

Azevêdo highlighted Brazil’s role in this global scenario, emphasizing the country’s clean electricity matrix, which can reach up to 90% renewable energy depending on weather conditions. “This is an aspiration that many developed countries will still have for years. We are already there,” he said. Additionally, he pointed out the importance of biofuels and Brazil’s vast green areas. However, he warned: “These resources only have financial value if they are part of monitored and approved programs. A standing tree without registration in a carbon project has no economic value.”

Azevêdo underscored the importance of approving the law regulating the carbon market in Brazil, calling it “a huge step in the right direction.” He also mentioned the recent memorandum of understanding signed between Ambipar and the State of Pará for the commercialization of carbon credits, reinforcing the need for projects that ensure quality, traceability, and credibility.

Among Ambipar’s innovations, he introduced Ambify, a green cryptocurrency developed to democratize the buying and selling of carbon credits. “Ambify allows any individual or company to offset their emissions, even for smaller events. It is a transparent tool with blockchain data that ensures reliability and avoids double counting,” he explained. Azevêdo emphasized that this technology brings the general public closer to combating climate change and promotes a more sustainable future.

Concluding his speech, Azevêdo reflected on political cycles and their influence on environmental agendas but expressed confidence in the future of sustainability. “There may be noise and moments of turbulence, but the sustainability agenda is here to stay. The private sector and citizens have already embraced it, and this is irreversible,” he concluded. Watch:

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