Principais conclusões do workshop conjunto dos programas FAPESP BIOTA-BIOEN-mudanças climáticas: ciência e políticas públicas para uma economia mais verde, no contexto da RIO+20

Abstract

This Point of View summarizes the conclusion of a joint workshop organized by FAPESP's Environmental Research Programs -BIOTA (The Virtual Institute of Biodiversity) -BIOEN (Bioenergy Research) -Climate Change, to discuss the scientific contribution to the RIO+20 UN Conference. Brazilian scientists gathered at FAPESP's headquarters in São Paulo City in the first week of March 2012 raised the following concerns: a) that there are very few opportunities for the scientific community to interact with Conferences like the RIO+20; b) the deficiencies of the ZeroDraft, document produced by UN's Division for Sustainable Development for the RIO+20; c) the fact that the focus of all three research programs -biodiversity, bioenergy and climate change -are not on the agenda of discussions of RIO +20; d) that little emphasis is given to the oceans in the Conference Agenda; e) regarding market mechanisms associated with the transition to a greener economy, the need to emphasize the reduction of perverse subsidies and promotion of economic incentives to activities or processes to mitigate emissions and/or carbon sequestration; f) that in Brazil we need to stimulate and consolidate research focused on Ecosystem Services Assessments and Evaluation. The workshop participants recognized the need to strengthen knowledge about international conventions, treaties and agreements signed and ratified by Brazil, as well as international institutions, programs and initiatives to promote the participation of the scientific community in global environmental policies debate. Finally, from the viewpoint of the three FAPESP programs two points were highlighted: a) that it is imperative to deepen the scientific knowledge in each of the three focal areas -biodiversity, bioenergy and climate change -because it is necessary to increase the critical mass of researchers and knowledge to reach the global forum in these strategic areas; b) it is also imperative to support and promote research projects that integrate the focal areas of the three programs, bringing together inter and transdisciplinary teams. This is a worldwide trend in the area of global environmental change, and participants of the three programs feel they can make a significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge, to the international debate and for the effective solution of problems.