One of the most prestigious global forums for discussing the clean energy transition and the pressing challenges in the energy sector, the Clean Energy Ministerial 16 and Mission Innovation 10, was held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from August 25 to 27. Alongside activities from the Biofuture Platform, a key initiative promoting biofuels and low-carbon solutions, the Brazilian Sugarcane and Bioenergy Industry Association (UNICA) participated as part of the Sugarcane Ethanol Project, an initiative in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil). The aim was to showcase how Brazil’s extensive experience with ethanol can contribute to advancing the global energy transition.
Over the course of the three-day event, high-level policymakers, industry leaders, and key stakeholders from around the world came together to discuss how countries can collaborate to achieve a low-carbon energy supply. Among the solutions is the role of biofuels in decarbonizing the transport sector.
During these discussions, UNICA emphasized the critical importance of precision in greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting. Not all biofuels are created equal—different production pathways can result in significantly different GHG emissions profiles. This is why robust, transparent, and harmonized carbon accounting methodologies are essential to ensure that truly sustainable solutions are recognized and scaled globally.
During the cocktail reception hosted by UNICA at the event venue on August 27, one of the key topics discussed was the urgent need for a unified, evidence-based approach to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Such an approach is essential to strengthening the integrity of carbon accounting, promoting fair market competition, and aligning policy frameworks—ultimately accelerating the global transition to net zero.
Alongside the main event agenda, UNICA and some of its associates held a series of bilateral meetings with representatives from countries including the Netherlands, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa, and the European Union. These meetings served to strengthen discussions around ethanol production and trade, reinforcing international cooperation on sustainable energy solutions.
About Sugarcane Ethanol Project
ApexBrasil and UNICA made public in 2008, through the Brazilian Sugarcane Ethanol partnership, a strategy to promote the image of sugarcane products abroad, especially Brazilian ethanol as a clean and renewable energy. In 2023, the two entities signed an agreement that provides for shared investments.
The sectoral project aims to influence the process of building the image of ethanol and other sugarcane derivatives among the main global opinion makers – governments and the media, as well as trading companies, potential investors and importers, NGOs and consumers.
About ApexBrasil
The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and attract foreign investments to strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy. In order to achieve its goals, ApexBrasil carries out several trade promotion initiatives aimed at promoting Brazilian products and services abroad, such as prospective and trade missions, business rounds, support to the participation of Brazilian companies in major international fairs, visits of foreign buyers and opinion makers to learn about the Brazilian productive structure, among other business platforms that also aim at strengthening the Brazil brand. The Agency also acts in a coordinated way with public and private players to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil with a focus on strategic sectors for the development of the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country.
About UNICA
UNICA is the main representative body for sugar, bioethanol and other bioenergy products from mills located in the Center-South region of Brazil. Currently, it has more than 120 associated companies, which represent 60% of the sugar and ethanol produced in the country. UNICA has its headquarters in São Paulo and Brasília, as well as offices in Europe and United States.
