Brazil, India, Italy and Japan have announced a joint commitment to quadruple their production and consumption of sustainable fuels by 2035. The initiative, presented in Brasília during a preparatory meeting for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), is part of a coordinated regulatory effort ahead of the international summit scheduled to take place in Belém, Brazil.
According to Joao Marcos Paes Leme, Director of the Energy Department at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this commitment is based on measurable production targets and national monitoring frameworks that each country will adapt to its own energy policy. He noted that other countries, particularly in Europe, had expressed interest in joining the agreement before November.
Industrial sectors subject to new standards
The fuels covered by this commitment include biofuels, hydrogen and synthetic fuels. These segments are currently being discussed in terms of common standards to regulate their use in hard-to-electrify sectors such as aviation, maritime transport and heavy industries. The stated objective is to establish an international framework that ensures both environmental and economic compliance.
Mr Paes Leme stated that these sectors remain dependent on fossil fuels due to technical and logistical constraints. The initiative is therefore aimed at defining mechanisms of incentive and control rather than immediate substitution. Delegates from 67 countries attending the talks in Brasília are working to lay the groundwork for a common regulatory agreement ahead of COP30.
Concerns over land use and sustainability
Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), welcomed the initiative while stressing the need for strict regulation of biofuels. He warned that producing raw materials such as maize, sugarcane or soy could place increased pressure on agricultural land without defined usage standards.
According to him, a fuel can only be considered sustainable if it complies with precise regulatory criteria regarding land management and resource traceability. This issue is central to current negotiations, as Brazil—the host nation—continues to expand its investments in hydrocarbons while promoting a hybrid energy model.
Towards international harmonisation of energy standards
The preparatory discussions in Brasília aim to establish a foundation for international harmonisation of regulations governing alternative fuels. Participating countries are working to define common certification and control standards that could later be incorporated into national legislation after COP30. These frameworks are expected to improve compatibility between regional energy policies.
This effort comes amid growing global energy demand, where the diversification of sources is accompanied by increasingly complex regulation. The project’s success will depend on states’ ability to implement effective control systems while ensuring investment stability in energy infrastructure.
