Science Diplomacy’s role in promoting Energy Transition: The RCGI’s case

  • Author
  • André dos Santos Alonso Pereira
  • Co-authors
  • Karen Louise Mascarenhas
  • Abstract
  • Energy transition, as currently understood as the change from the fossil fuel age towards a possible low-carbon future, has become a necessity for any country's energy security. As pressure mounts for the accomplishment of multilateral goals such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), countries attempt to create a clear strategy to adapt to this context. Meanwhile, Brazil is particularly pressed to present a long-term plan for this area, due to its importance in the Amazon's preservation and leadership in the Global South. Although the Latin American nation still invests heavily in the hydrocarbon sector, its research sector has made significant breakthroughs in other energy sectors, especially biofuels and hydrogen. Those innovations came primarily from universities and research centers. One such center is the Research Center for Greenhouse Gas Innovation (RCGI), an organization from the University of São Paulo funded by public investment and private partnerships. With over 120 projects (including finished and in progress), the center is gaining momentum with a crescent number of partnerships, including an office in Amsterdam. This places RCGI in a position to be a tool for Brazil's science diplomacy initiatives. Public perception and advocacy are two cornerstones for the diffusion and usage of new technologies, as well as to receive more investments. These objectives can be accomplished through a science diplomacy perspective, which is essential to deal with global issues like climate change and energy transition. Therefore, this present study aims to present a study case of how RCGI is using science diplomacy initiatives to expand its portfolio and close alliances to promote the energy transition-related projects it has been developing in the past eight years. For this purpose, we analyze how RCGI's projects can contribute to Brazil's NDC targets, as this is the main multilateral and environmental goal the country currently needs to achieve.

  • Keywords
  • Science Diplomacy; Energy Transition; National Determined Contributions; RCGI; Decarbonization
  • Modality
  • Comunicação oral
  • Subject Area
  • Energy Security and Geopolitics
Back Download
  • Oil and Gas Markets and Investments
  • Energy Security and Geopolitics
  • Electricity markets
  • Energy and finance
  • Energy demand
  • Country studies
  • Energy and society
  • Energy Policy and Regulation
  • Climate Change: mitigation and adaptation
  • Disruptive innovation and energy transition
  • Energy and macroeconomics
  • Local governments
  • System integration
  • Energy and transport
  • Regional energy integration
  • LNG Markets in Latam
  • Social Dimensions of Energy Transition
  • Variable Renewable Energies
  • Distributed Energy Resources
  • System Integration, Energy Networks and Resilience
  • Energy Investment and Finance
  • Energy Market Design
  • Technology, Innovation and Policies
  • Low Carbon Hydrogen
  • Bioenergy and Biofuels
  • Energy and Development
  • New Supply Chains
  • Future of Utilities
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Modeling
  • Energy and Macroeconomics
  • Energy Subsidies
  • Transportation and (e-) mobility
  • Nuclear Energy in Latam
  • Oil and Gas Markets and Investments
  • Energy Security and Geopolitics
  • Electricity markets
  • Energy and finance
  • Energy demand
  • Country studies
  • Energy and society
  • Energy Policy and Regulation
  • Climate Change: mitigation and adaptation
  • Disruptive innovation and energy transition
  • Energy and macroeconomics
  • Local governments
  • System integration
  • Energy and transport
  • Regional energy integration
  • LNG Markets in Latam
  • Social Dimensions of Energy Transition
  • Variable Renewable Energies
  • Distributed Energy Resources
  • System Integration, Energy Networks and Resilience
  • Energy Investment and Finance
  • Energy Market Design
  • Technology, Innovation and Policies
  • Low Carbon Hydrogen
  • Bioenergy and Biofuels
  • Energy and Development
  • New Supply Chains
  • Future of Utilities
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Modeling
  • Energy and Macroeconomics
  • Energy Subsidies
  • Transportation and (e-) mobility
  • Nuclear Energy in Latam