Yesterday, ECO reported that Brazil had failed to consult with Brazilian civil society before submitting its Reference Levels to the UNFCCC, and that it had not yet made the submission public. Today, we are pleased to report that the submission has been published on the Brazilian government website, apparently while yesterday’s article was in press.
Now that the submission is no longer a black box, ECO wants to properly congratulate Brazil on being the first country to submit its reference levels. We hope other countries will soon follow, with due consultation and transparency. While ex-post assessment is no substitute for prior consultation, at least now, the submission can be properly analysed and assessed. Brazil seems to be trying, but needs to work harder to become a role model in transparency and consultation.