Having a development agenda based on sustainability and sovereignty as strategic elements is extremely important for Brazil, write Ana Paula de Carvalho Teixeira and Mozart Neves Ramos.
Brazil is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity on the planet, mainly because it covers most of the Amazon biome, has a large amount of fertile land, abundant water and high solar incidence. For all these reasons, it is considered by many to be a country with great potential to lead the movement towards sustainability. In this context, having a development agenda based on sustainability and sovereignty as strategic elements is extremely important for Brazil.
Chemistry plays a central role in sustainability and, as a science, industrial and economic activity, it can contribute immensely to the resolution of major environmental issues in all economic sectors, such as: reduction and use of agricultural waste; food preservation and extension of its shelf life; definition of new, more efficient, lower cost materials with a lower carbon footprint; best way to generate clean energy; treatment of waste and effluents from industries of all sectors; between others.
IYBSSD 2022
As for actions at a global level, the United Nations (UN) Agenda 2030, through the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), declared 2022 the International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development. (IYBSSD 2022). Chemistry, among the basic sciences, has enormous potential to contribute to sustainability. The Post-2022 Chemical Movement — Sustainability and Sovereignty, created by the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) with the objective of contributing to the sustainability and sovereignty of the country through chemistry, emerged from this premise.
Post-2022 Chemical Movement
The movement counts on the contribution of actors from universities, industry, government, the third sector and other organizations that have allowed a broad debate on the topic of sustainability linked to chemistry. The fruit of this work led to the construction of two Chemistry Goals for Sustainable Development (OQDS), inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (ODS):
- OQDS 1 — Promoting Sustainability through Chemistry in basic education (without basic education of good quality and for all, we will not have sustainability).
Here, three main lines of action were listed:- Axis 1: Chemistry teacher protagonist for a more sustainable world;
- Axis 2: Classroom as a special space for chemistry and sustainability;
- Axis 3: School: projects in chemistry and sustainability for society.
- OQDS 2 — Promoting sustainability through CTI E in chemistry in industry and academia. Another three axes of action were considered:
- Axis 1: Chemical industry as one of the leaders in the transition to sustainability;
- Axis 2: Interaction between university, industry and society for advances in chemistry and sustainability;
- Axis 3: Education of chemists for sustainability.
To mobilize the country around these two OQDS and their respective axes, nine themes are being proposed:
- Climate change (capture and use of CO2, carbon footprint and others);
- Waste reuse and circular economy;
- Bioproducts and bioeconomy;
- Renewable materials, sustainable materials;
- Effluent treatment and basic sanitation;
- Renewable energies, biofuels and hydrogen;
- Sustainable use of mineral and natural resources;
- Pollution of water, air and soil;
- Agrochemicals for sustainable food production.
To put this into practice, we will need more than ever the engagement of the aforementioned actors and fortunately this is happening on an exponential scale. It is Brazilian chemistry contributing to a better, sustainable and sovereign Brazil. Future generations will thank you.
This post was culled from Correio Braziliense
