• New research from Schneider Electric and Brazil’s Ministry of Industry outlines pathways to cut industrial emissions by up to 60 percent by 2050 under a high-ambition scenario.
• The company projects creation of up to 760,000 bioenergy jobs by 2030, calling for reskilling 450,000 professionals in automation, electrification, and carbon traceability.
• Brazil’s COP30 presidency positions the country as a test case for how emerging economies can align industrial policy, climate governance, and economic growth.
Decarbonization meets industrial ambition
As global attention turns to COP30, Schneider Electric is placing industrial decarbonization at the center of Brazil’s climate narrative. The French energy and automation company, together with Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade, and Services, released new research outlining two potential industrial futures to 2050. One scenario foresees Brazil cutting industrial emissions by more than half through rapid electrification, efficiency, and digitalization—while sustaining economic growth.
In the high-ambition pathway, electricity’s share of final energy use would rise from 18 percent today to nearly 60 percent by mid-century, while fossil fuel use would fall to just 16 percent. Industries such as steel, cement, and chemicals would integrate low-carbon technologies and automation to increase output even as emissions decline. For business and investors, the report reframes decarbonization not as a compliance cost but as a driver of competitiveness within Brazil’s evolving industrial policy.
Governance, policy, and infrastructure
The analysis stresses that Brazil’s natural advantages—its diversified energy matrix, renewable resources, and potential in green hydrogen—are necessary but not sufficient. The country’s ability to scale electrification, expand grid infrastructure, and invest in digital automation will determine whether it captures the gains of a green industrial transition.
Governance and regulatory alignment emerge as central themes. Without decisive infrastructure investment and policy coordination, the alternate scenario shows emissions plateauing around current levels, delaying both climate and economic benefits. For policymakers, the report reinforces that industrial transformation must be treated as a national strategy, integrating innovation, competitiveness, and environmental responsibility.
Building a future-ready workforce
Alongside technology, Schneider Electric’s new study with consultancy Systemiq spotlights the human dimension of transition. It projects the creation of up to 760,000 new jobs in Brazil’s bioenergy sector by 2030, supported by a need to reskill about 450,000 professionals in automation, electrification, and carbon management.
The report proposes a three-phase action plan—technical training, integration of labor market data between companies and government, and education system reform—to ensure workers are prepared for a digital, low-carbon economy. For corporate executives, the implication is clear: workforce development is no longer peripheral to sustainability strategy but integral to operational resilience.
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Private sector engagement at COP30
At COP30’s Blue Zone in Belém, Schneider Electric’s leadership is participating in a series of panels focused on clean energy, productive decarbonization, and green skills. Discussions will explore the role of the private sector in implementing climate commitments, the rise of sustainable data centers, and the importance of industrial electrification in emerging markets.
Executives including Esther Finidori, the company’s Chief Sustainability Officer, and Rafael Segrera, President for South America, are advocating for what they describe as a “just and inclusive” transition—one that accelerates technology deployment while broadening access to education, employment, and opportunity across Brazil’s regions.
Global implications for investors and ESG strategy
For investors and C-suite leaders, Brazil’s emerging model suggests how industrial decarbonization can align with development priorities. The focus on demand-driven transformation—how industries consume and manage energy—provides a replicable framework for other emerging economies seeking growth without carbon expansion.
As the global south takes a more active role in shaping the climate agenda, Brazil’s example may redefine expectations for governance, capital allocation, and partnership between the public and private sectors. The takeaway from Schneider Electric’s message at COP30 is direct: the next wave of industrial progress will depend less on resources and more on how quickly nations build the systems, skills, and structures for a sustainable economy.
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