Brazil could adopt "measurable” and volunteer objectives in regard to global warming, suggested on Wednesday (28) Brazilian Forum of NGO’s and Social Movements for Environment and Development (FBOMS) climate group coordinator, Rubens Born. Only by doing so, he alerted, it would be possible to check if the country is adopting the right measures to combat climate change.

- If we have goals for inflation, primary superavit and the reduction of poverty, we could also propose a national debate on fixing measurable goals to themes related to climate change, as, for example, efficiency in the use of energy – suggested Born, who also coordinates Vitae Civilis NGO, in an answer to a question made by senator Delcídio Amaral (PT-MS), during a meeting of the Special Joint Committee on Climate Change destined to the release of two booklets made by the forum.

The two publications - Climate Change and Brazil and International Environmental Governance, both available for download in the electronic addresses www.vitaecivilis.org.br and www.fboms.org.br - are destined, according to the forum’s representatives, to deepen debate regarding climate change. The texts have contributions for sectorial policies in areas as forests, biodiversity, energy and energy efficiency.

Delcídio said that countries as Germany and Spain already have big wind power stations. He asked the opinion of environmentalists about the construction of Angra 3 nuclear power station and of hydroelectric power stations in Madeira river. In answer, the member of work group about energy from FBOMS, Ivan Marcelo Neves, said that before Brazil builds new plants it should make an effort towards energy efficiency and to reform current hydroelectric power stations.

FBOMS executive manager, Esther Neuhaus, observed that the International Environmental Governance booklet is destined mainly to promote the debate in Brazil and in Latin America regarding current global discussions on the theme. She reminded that currently discussions on environment are restricted to advanced countries and observed that, at the present moment, there is a debate going on regarding the reform of United Nations’ institutions linked to the environment.

As a member to the Mercosul Parliament, senator Inácio Arruda (PCdoB-CE) asked Esther to provide a Spanish version of the text, so that the debate can be expanded to neighboring countries. He also reminded that South America’s energy integration has been one of the first themes to be discussed by the recently-installed parliament.

Before the debate, deputy Rocha Loures (PMDB-PR) – designated by the president of the committee, deputy Eduardo Gomes (PSDB-TO) as substitute rapporteur- announced that the Joint Committee should expand its work for one more year. The committee’s rapporteur, senator Renato Casagrande (PSB-ES), said he would analyze the two publications.