Transportation is a sector with a major influence on economic competitiveness and, simultaneously, one of the most relevant on the global climate agenda. In several countries, its share of national emissions is growing as other sectors become more efficient or decarbonized. In Brazil, where logistics is heavily dependent on road transport, the discussion becomes even more relevant: understanding where and how emissions are generated is fundamental to guiding public policies, business investments, and tactical and operational supply chain decisions.
Global Scenario: CO₂e Emissions in Transportation
According to ClimateWatch, Brazil occupies the 6th position worldwide in absolute emissions from the transport sector. In a global context, transport represents approximately 16% of total emissionsThis participation varies significantly between countries due to structural, technological, and energy matrix differences.
In the Brazilian case, the sector represents 14% of national emissions, a percentage lower than the global average. This result does not necessarily reflect a lower intensity of transportation in the country, but rather the disproportionate weight of sectors such as farming e land use change, which have a great influence on the national inventory. In contrast, developed economies present distinct profiles: transport represents 31% of US emissions e 26% of the European Union's emissionsThis demonstrates a higher level of energy and industrial maturity, in which transportation takes on a relatively prominent role.
Another important indicator is that of Transport emissions as a percentage of GDP, in which Brazil performs relatively worse. This signals a high dependence on more carbon-intensive modes of transport and reveals a significant climate cost associated with the national logistics matrix.
Source: Climate Watch, 2022 | ILOS Analysis (Accessed 04/12/2025).
Emissions in Brazilian transport
O CNT Inventory 2025 It identifies that, in the base year 2023, the Brazilian transport sector issued 190 mtCO₂e, with a clear predominance of road modal, responsible for 92,9% of the sector's total emissions. This pattern is consistent with the historical structure of Brazilian logistics, characterized by low modal diversification and the predominant use of fossil fuels.
Source: CNT, 2025 | ILOS Analysis (Accessed on 04/12/2025).
Road transport exhibits high levels of intensity for two main reasons: massive use of fossil fuelsespecially diesel and gasoline and the high representation of the automotive and freight transport categories, which possess large fleets and significant energy intensities.
From the perspective of transport demand, the Brazilian freight matrix reinforces this leading role. Data from ILOS (2025) show that the modal distribution is composed of 63,4% road transport, 18,0% rail, 14,6% waterborne, 4,1% pipeline e 0,1% airNaturally, this composition directs the sector's climate impact towards road transport.
Emissions by vehicle category: focus on road transport
A more granular analysis of road transport allows for the identification of critical segments for emissions mitigation. Categories associated with freight transport are the main contributors, with trucks representing... 34% of the sector's emissions. In individual transportation, the following stand out: flex-fuel cars with 30%, due to the large fleet size and significant consumption of ethanol and gasoline.
These results demonstrate that, although individual transport has a significant impact, it is freight transport that holds the greatest potential for mitigation. This is mainly due to the absolute predominance of... Diesel as an energy source and to Brazilian logistics structure, characterized by long distances, low adoption of alternative modes of transport, and infrastructure limitations.
Electrification emerges as a promising long-term alternative, but its current participation is still incipient. Barriers such as acquisition cost, battery range, availability of charging points, and operational restrictions limit its widespread adoption in the short term. In parallel, intermediate solutions such as biofuels and heavy hybrids tend to gain relevance.
Mitigation Pathways and Best Practices
Brazil, as a signatory to Paris Agreement, set ambitious targets in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC): to reduce 59% to 67% of net emissions by 2035 and achieve neutrality by 2050, in relation to 2005 levels. For the transport sector to contribute adequately to these objectives, structural and operational actions will be necessary on multiple fronts.
Strategies include:
- Fleet modernization, incorporating more efficient technologies and lower emissions;
- Progressive renewal of heavy and semi-heavy trucks., prioritizing lower-energy technologies;
- Adoption of efficient driving practiceswhich can reduce consumption and emissions immediately;
- Logistics optimization: reduction of empty trips, consolidation of loads and use of advanced routing systems;
- Digitization and telemetry for monitoring indicators such as CO₂e per ton-km;
- Expansion of multimodality, with encouragement for railways and waterways, especially for long-distance transport;
- Gradual transition to renewable fuels, with the strategic role of biofuels in the short and medium term;
- Electrification, initially for urban fleets and operations with medium predictability;
- Emissions offsetting, in a complementary way, aligned with environmental integrity standards.
These measures can be combined across different time horizons. In the short term, efficiency and optimization actions predominate. In the medium term, fleet modernization and the advancement of biofuels stand out. In the long term, electrification and increased participation of less intensive modes of transport should shape the new Brazilian logistics pattern.
Conclusion
The data reinforces the fact that Brazil faces a logistical paradox: it is a country whose transport matrix is highly dependent on road transport—the most carbon-intensive mode—and, at the same time, it is under pressure to rapidly reduce emissions in the coming decades. The predominance of heavy and semi-heavy trucks in the emissions profile confirms that logistical decarbonization necessarily involves the structural transformation of the road transport system.
In this context, companies play a decisive role. Incorporating climate metrics into logistics management, investing in operational efficiency, and progressively adopting lower-energy technologies will be fundamental to maintaining competitiveness and meeting the demands of the transition to a low-carbon economy.
References:
- CNT Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Transportation Sector. – Brasília: Ambipar : CNT, 2025.
- Climate Data for Action | Climate Watch | Emissions and Policies
- Brazil's NDC: Climate Ambition — Ministry of Environment and Climate Change
- https://prime.ilos.com.br/posts/matriz-de-transportes-de-carga-do-brasil
