Sustainable growth in Brazil: Analysis of the degree of decoupling between GDP and greenhouse gases between 1991 and 2021
Green Economy; Decoupling; Tapio Index; Agricultural Sector; Industrial Sector.
This paper analyzes the relationship between economic growth and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Brazilian agricultural and industrial sectors using the Tapio Index. The degree of decoupling of emissions from the sector's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was investigated. The research reveals that, over the 30 years studied, the agricultural sector predominantly presented weak decoupling, with GDP growth higher than emissions. However, there were critical moments of strong negative decoupling, in which emissions increased while GDP shrank, reflecting an unsustainable environmental trajectory. The results indicate the need for effective public policies to promote green growth in the agricultural sector, focusing on technologies that reduce emissions and increase productive efficiency. Comparisons with other developing countries, such as China, reinforce the importance of investments in clean technologies to ensure sustainability. The research suggests the future inclusion of land use in the analysis and the study of other sectors of the economy to better understand environmental challenges.