Challenges and Resistance in Brazil’s Energy Transition

Brazil’s energy transition has been marked by a complex landscape in which economic, social, and environmental interests intertwine amid climate urgency and political challenges. Recently, the Climate Observatory (Observatório do Clima – OC), which brings together 161 civil society organizations, presented a structured proposal for the country’s energy transition plan.

Challenges and Resistance in Brazil’s Energy Transition

The proposal is divided into three main pillars: energy policy guidelines and sectoral transition; governance and institutional arrangements; and budget, financing, and economic foundations. Its objective is to contribute to the so-called “roadmap” for ending dependence on fossil fuels an initiative presented by the Brazilian government during COP30, with a submission deadline of February 8, 2026, as established by a Presidential Order issued in December 2025.

However, this transition faces significant resistance. Institutions such as the International ARAYARA Institute, the Coal Mineral Observatory, the No Fracking Brazil Coalition (COESUS), the Oil and Gas Observatory, and the Faith, Peace and Climate Institution have taken a critical stance toward official guidelines and the contradictory advance of fossil fuels in the country. These organizations denounce the mismatch between government discourse and actual practice, pointing to the influence of the fossil fuel lobby, which weakened the environmental agenda at COP30.

Brazil is experiencing a troubling social contradiction. On one hand, there is growing public outrage over environmental and political crises affecting the country and the planet. On the other, social complacency persists, favoring the maintenance of the status quo and benefiting governments and economic sectors resistant to change. Many people, overwhelmed by the volume of information and the complexity of these issues, end up repeating superficial narratives without deeper debate contributing to a passive, uncritical society.

In this context, the role of organizations that challenge indifference and apathy is fundamental. The International ARAYARA Institute, for example, has stood out for its firm advocacy of collective interests and the promotion of sustainable energy alternatives. During COP30, held in Belém do Pará, ARAYARA demonstrated its capacity for direct dialogue with the government, notably in the symbolic moment when activist John Wurdig delivered documents to Minister Marina Silva, reinforcing the importance of engagement between civil society and public authorities.

ARAYARA operates on multiple fronts: combating fracking, exposing the socio-environmental impacts of coal and oil exploitation, and promoting energy alternatives that respect the environment and local communities. Among its achievements are campaigns that halted fracking projects in several Brazilian states and legal actions challenging the auctioning of exploration blocks in environmentally sensitive areas.

An emblematic example of ARAYARA’s work is its mobilization against the expansion of coal mining in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. Beyond denouncing the environmental and social impacts of this expansion, the organization proposes just transition alternatives, including economic reconversion programs for workers and communities dependent on the fossil fuel industry. This approach seeks to ensure that the energy transition does not abandon those who have historically relied on these activities for their livelihoods.

Organizations within this critical movement have also issued a joint position statement highlighting key points for public debate. They emphasize the gap between official rhetoric and concrete actions, criticize the lack of popular participation in drafting the transition plan, and denounce the incoherent advance of fossil fuels citing contracts in force until 2040 and new auctions in environmentally sensitive regions such as the Amazon, the Cerrado, the Caatinga, and the Atlantic Forest.

Additionally, these organizations challenge the government’s notion of a “just transition,” arguing that subsidies for coal mining do not secure jobs but rather generate profits for mining companies. The closure of the Cruz de Malta Mine in 2025, which resulted in the dismissal of 200 workers, is cited as evidence of the fallacy of this policy.

In light of this scenario, the organizations demand the immediate suspension of new fossil-fuel thermal power contracts, the effective activation of the National Energy Transition Forum (FONTE), and the redirection of coal subsidies toward economic reconversion plans that benefit affected workers and communities.

Brazil faces an unprecedented climate emergency, and the energy transition is one of the essential pathways to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of this crisis. Organizations such as ARAYARA play a crucial role by exposing setbacks, mobilizing society, and proposing alternatives grounded in science and social justice.

While many limit themselves to consuming superficial information and replicating misinformation, these organizations dedicate themselves to studies, research, and concrete actions aimed at building a more sustainable and equitable future. Hope lies in overcoming apathy and complacency, fostering conscious and active engagement across Brazilian society.

Science and specialized knowledge must form the foundation of political and social decisions that will shape the country’s future. Only through a collective and informed commitment will it be possible to advance toward a just energy transition—one that respects the environment, promotes sustainable economic development, and safeguards the rights of the most vulnerable populations.

Thus, the challenge is set: to transform Brazil into an example of environmental and social commitment, confronting resistance and building a solid path toward sustainability and climate justice.

Challenges and Resistance in Brazil’s Energy Transition