Análise das emissões de gases de efeito estufa no transporte rodoviário de cargas e alternativas para a descarbonização via biotecnologia e bioeconomia

Abstract

Climate change resulting from the intensification of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions has placed increasing pressure on productive sectors highly dependent on fossil fuels. In Brazil, Road Freight Transport (RFT) stands as the country's primary logistics mode and one of the most significant sources of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other GHG emissions, a scenario that underscores the urgency of sector-specific decarbonization strategies. In this context, biotechnology and bioeconomy emerge as promising mitigation vectors, offering technically and economically viable alternatives to the conventional fossil fuel-based energy matrix. This study aims to analyze CO₂ emissions associated with Brazilian RFT operations and assess mitigation alternatives grounded in biotechnological pathways and bioeconomy principles. To this end, a simplified GHG emissions calculation tool was developed, structured around the sector's main emission sources and emission factors compatible with the national context. The tool was applied in a real-world scenario using operational fleet data, enabling the quantification of generated emissions and the identification of critical points within the analyzed logistics process. Based on the results obtained, bioeconomy-based mitigation alternatives were evaluated, with particular emphasis on the use of advanced biofuels, partial substitution by renewableorigin fuels, and carbon compensation and valorization strategies through bioprocesses. The findings demonstrate that integrating these solutions into the logistics sector not only enables the measurement and reduction of environmental impacts from RFT operations but also represents a concrete opportunity to add environmental and economic value to logistics chains, contributing to the national energy transition and to the development of lower carbon-intensity productive systems.