Petrobras and Shell Brazil announced the launch of Carbon Countdown, the largest carbon stock inventory ever conducted in Brazil. The project, presented on December 12, will last five years and will cover all Brazilian terrestrial biomes: Amazon, Cerrado, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, Pantanal and Pampa.
The project is executed by Esalq/USP and will involve the participation of regional universities and research institutes. Its main objective is to measure surface and subsurface carbon stocks in a standardized way, generating a public geospatial database with international scientific recognition.
More than R$ 100 million in investment and a rigorous approach
Carbon Countdown will receive an investment of more than R$ 100 million, channeled through the Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) clause in the oil and gas exploration and production contracts. oil and gas exploration contractsThe project, under the supervision of the ANP (National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels), will be financed through the Research, Development and Innovation (R+D+i) clause in oil and gas exploration contracts.
With the application of methodologies approved by the IPCC, the UN scientific body on climate change, the project will establish a reliable technical basis to support public policies, private investments and territorial planning.
An unprecedented scientific effort
A total of 6,500 sampling areas will be delineated, with more than 250,000 soil samples and another 400,000 samples of vegetation and complementary attributes. This effort will be supported by a national research network with field teams, local laboratories and unified quality, health and safety protocols.
Potential for carbon credits and reforestation
The Carbon Countdown will provide essential data for the design and validation of carbon credit projects, ecological restoration initiatives ecological restoration and sustainable land-use planning schemes. It will also provide greater certainty to investors and public decision-makers in the context of the transition to a low-carbon economy. to a low-carbon economy.
Olivier Wambersie, general manager of Technology for Shell Brazil, stressed that this tool will be key to consolidating Brazil’s role as a leader in nature-based solutions, especially in agroforestry, conservation and reforestation.
Training, open data and regional leadership
In addition to the direct sustainability benefits, the project will invest in training researchers and strengthening the national scientific infrastructure. The database generated will be open and public, facilitating collaboration with national and international institutions.
Petrobras and Shell Brazil’ s leadership in this project demonstrates a convergence between environmental responsibility, scientific innovation and corporate strategy, at a time when the world is looking to Brazil as a key player in the global climate market.
Source: Petrobras