Rio de Janeiro’s Starting Point to Achieve its “Zero Emissions” Target

Biogas from trash is helping to drive Rio de Janeiro towards its C40 Cities initiative goals. That means the city has pledged to slash emissions by 20 percent of its 2004 volume by 2020. But that won’t be the end of the matter. C40 Cities say they aim to be carbon neutral by 2050 and that will mean producing no more greenhouse gas than they are able to offset.

Emissions Nearly to Zero by 2050

Early on, Rio de Janeiro pinpointed a little-recognized but major source of greenhouse gas as an area where it could get significant results quickly – trash.

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Organic Waste an Important Source of Greenhouse Gas

Cities produce a great deal of organic waste, and in landfills, this waste decomposes under anaerobic conditions, producing methane gas. As a greenhouse gas, methane is 28 times more harmful than carbon dioxide, making it an important source of city emissions and a major contributor to climate change.

Rio de Janeiro transports its domestic and industrial organic waste to a treatment plant 60 kilometers outside the city where organic waste’s potential to produce methane is put to good use. The plant receives 10,000 tons of waste daily, collects biogas from the waste, purifies it and sells it to the state gas company or to industries.

However, the plant is not the only waste management initiative to reduce city greenhouse gas production. The city reports two thirds of its reduced emissions as being attributable to good waste management practices.

Reducing City Emissions Requires Multiple Strategies and Initial Investment

Cities are known to be responsible for around 75 percent of the world’s CO2 emissions and are also the greediest consumers of energy. By collecting biogas, cities can either use it directly as a source of energy or use it to generate clean electricity. But there is no panacea. Other projects employed by cities to reduce emissions include planting trees and improving public transport networks.

Rio hasn’t lacked emissions-reducing strategies, but the city has faced hurdles and may fall short of its 2020 goal despite its best efforts. Recent economic setbacks stemming mainly from low oil prices and corruption have delayed projects such as the construction of a second waste treatment plant, and the city is struggling to find bidders for tenders. Recently, a project for the replacement of streetlight globes with energy efficient LEDs fell flat after no companies entered tenders.

National Issues and An Unfavorable Political Climate May Negate Rio’s Efforts

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Rio Struggling to Reach C40 Target

With most of the green-house gases we produce coming from cities, they have a vital role to play in shaping a sustainable future for the planet. However, despite its remarkable progress in emissions reduction, particularly through waste management, it seems likely that Rio will fall short of its 2020 target. City managers say they hope to maintain an 18 percent reduction in emissions, but will only be able to do so if the situation remains unchanged during the coming year.

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