The 27th World Climate Conference, promoted by the UN in Sharm El-Sheik (Egypt) and which comes to an end this Friday (18th), had as its keynote the urgency of putting into practice actions to face climate change, which is already present with a greater frequency of extreme weather events and significant impacts on populations and ecosystems around the globe.
One of the key issues in climate change is how we produce energy. Climate scientists across the globe agree that human influence, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels, is the main reason for climate change.
Therefore, the energy transition, with the replacement of fossil sources by renewable ones, is among the main strategies to curb global warming. And the UN proposes that, by 2050, the global energy sector should zero its emissions in an effort to keep the increase in temperature below 1.5°C, as foreseen in the Paris Agreement to avoid the most harmful effects of climate change.
The growth of solar and wind energy generation in Brazil and in the world is in line with this effort. But specialists present at COP 27 attest that, without a strong participation of hydroelectricity, which means expanding the use of this source, it will not be possible to promote the energy transition in fact.
According to Alex Campbell, Head of Research and Policy at the International Hydroelectricity Association (IHA), there are 132 Gigawatt (GW) of installed power in hydroelectric power plants under construction around the world and another 430 GW are in various stages of pre-construction, at this time.
“But even if these projects are completed, another 800 GW will still be needed to meet the needs of the energy transition. If we do not build new hydropower plants, this will imply more emissions from gas and coal generation to meet demand”, stated Campbell, in the side event “The role of hydroelectricity to achieve climate resilience”, held at the Tajikistan Pavilion, which also had the participation of Itaipu Binacional, the International Energy Agency, the Sustainable Infrastructure Group and the Eurasia Development Bank. It is worth mentioning that Paraguay, as well as Tajikistan, are countries with 100% hydroelectric generation.
With 14 GW of installed power that account for around 10% of the electricity consumed in Brazil and 90% in Paraguay, Itaipu power plant proves how the benefits of hydroelectricity extend beyond the generation of clean energy, with climate adaptation and resilience actions, based on the conservation of ecosystems and the preservation of water to serve several uses, including irrigation, transportation, leisure and supply.
“The climate emergency requires solutions that respect the interconnections between water, climate, energy, biodiversity and food production. The food issue is even one of the themes that stood out the most in this COP, since food production systems are already under strong pressure from climate change”, said Itaipu’s Head of Environmental Management, Ariel Scheffer da Silva.
These interrelations were even the subject of another side event in which the binational company participated this week, held at the Water Pavilion. “Throughout the latest editions of COP, Itaipu had the opportunity to expand its dialogue with several international organizations linked to climate and energy issues, reinforcing that hydroelectricity has an important role to play in the global climate agenda”, highlighted Lígia Leite Soares, of Itaipu’s Coordination Direction Staff.
Itaipu’s representation at this COP also included the participation of advisor María Antonia Gwynn, environmental engineer Larissa Felip Spalding and climatologist Sergio Mendez Gaona, all from the plant’s Paraguayan side. Throughout the program, Itaipu acted as organizer and/or exhibitor in six side events, held in partnership with several international organizations, such as the Department of Economic Affairs and (UN DESA), in addition to meetings and bilateral meetings including Ambassador Peter Thompson (UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Oceans), and authorities from the IHA, World Bank, Brazilian Fund for Biodiversity (Funbio), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), BNDES and Energia Network.
