Desenvolvimento sustentável e transição energética no Mercosul : uma análise à luz do Acordo de Paris

Abstract

The energy transition is essential for sustainable development, given climate change and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Agreement, signed in 2015, consolidated international commitments in this regard and reinforced the importance of regional cooperation on environmental issues. Mercosur is addressed as the main example of integration in South America, a condition that could facilitate the process of sustainable development and energy transition for Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. However, throughout its existence, the bloc has faced difficulties in addressing environmental issues in a coordinated manner and in creating binding guidelines. Actions on the topic have mostly followed national strategies, without the construction of a structured regional plan. Uruguay is used as a case study for being the only country in the bloc to have undergone a significant energy transition, driven by internal demands. This research analyzes how environmental issues have been historically addressed within Mercosur and the factors that hinder joint action. It highlights the bloc's unrealized potential to promote sustainable development through energy integration and the complementarity of its energy matrices. It also examines how Uruguay achieved this condition and became an example in the field.