Renewable energy partnerships are mutually beneficial, the official said

Ricardo Galvao, President of the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development

China and Brazil have a long history of climate cooperation, with the launch of their first China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite in 1988 serving as a shining example, said Ricardo Galvao, president of Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development.

The CBERS program has supported environmental monitoring, resource management and climate research, he said.

“China’s plans for sustainable energy production are also very robust, and I greatly appreciate China’s efforts in nuclear energy as it will be an essential option for the future,” he said, adding that world leaders must take into account the long-term effects of their energy production. policy.

“Short-sighted economic strategies cannot solve long-term problems like climate change,” he said.

Galvao, former director of the National Institute for Space Research and the Brazilian Center for Research in Physics, was a key figure in the satellite program.

On April 14 last year, China and Brazil issued a statement emphasizing the urgent need to combat climate change and promote sustainable development. A key outcome of the agreement was the upcoming launch of CBERS-6, which will be equipped with a synthetic aperture radar that can capture images through cloud cover.

“This will be very important in Brazil because the Amazon is covered in clouds for most of the year. The SAR capability is essential to accurately monitor environmental changes,” Galvao said.

“The Amazon is crucial not only for Brazil, but for the entire planet,” Galvao said. “Studies show that if deforestation in the Amazon exceeds 20 to 25 percent, the rainforest could reach an irreversible tipping point and may no longer be able to sustain itself as a rainforest. The forest’s moisture production would decline.”

Such losses, he noted, would have serious consequences for the stability of the global climate.

In addition to CBERS, a flagship project, Galvao sees greater potential for cooperation between Brazil and China.

“China is a global leader in battery production and rare earth use, and Brazil has complementary resources and expertise in these areas,” he said.

He believes that expanding cooperation can drive progress in renewable energy and sustainable technologies.

“Brazil’s energy matrix is ​​about 75 percent renewable, so there are experiences and insights we can share with China in the clean energy sector,” he added.

Galvao also highlighted China’s experience in building “smart grids,” which are essential for integrating renewable energy into the national power grid.

“Brazil has great potential in wind and solar energy generation, and cooperation with China on smart grids can strengthen our national energy infrastructure,” he said.

Galvao stressed the importance of comprehensive international agreements and sustainable development strategies, warning that isolated actions are insufficient.

“It doesn’t help much if Brazil preserves the Amazon while other countries continue high greenhouse gas emissions, so we need to work with other countries,” he said.

Recently, Brazil’s National Council for Scientific and Technological Development allocated 3 million reais ($518,000) for research in the Amazon region, focusing on biodiversity, hydrology and climate vulnerability.

“This is not just about monitoring deforestation, but also about understanding the broader environmental and social impacts of climate change on the region,” he said.