{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,7]],"date-time":"2026-02-07T17:40:32Z","timestamp":1770486032329,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2014,9,15]],"date-time":"2014-09-15T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1410739200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sustainability"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In the context of global concerns about climate change that stem from  the alarming and unprecedented growth of greenhouse gas (GHG)  emissions, this study discusses the use of energy by large consumers of  electricity in Brazil in the perspective of sustainable development,  energy resources, and regulatory policies. It evaluates the commitment  to emissions restrictions among the major customers of an electricity  utility company that serves 4.1 million consumers (68% of the population  and 66% of the gross internal product for the second-highest  economically developed Brazilian state). The evaluation is based on  proposed metrics and indicators. By considering the Brazilian commitment  to a policy of sustainable development, this study reviews the primary  international agreements and recommendations that have been developed to  mitigate and adapt to climate change and sustainability. A survey was  developed for participating organizations classified by economic sector  to assess their awareness to 18 issues that reflect international  guidelines on emission constraints. Based on total energy consumption,  the survey discusses the worrying level of GHG emissions (tCO2eq)  that is associated with the generation of electricity by customers of  the largest utility company. In spite of 90% of the organizations having  considered sustainability as a business opportunity and a competitive  differential that enables niche markets, the results of this study  demonstrated low commitment to the desired emissions restrictions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/su6096377","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2014,9,15]],"date-time":"2014-09-15T10:31:10Z","timestamp":1410777070000},"page":"6377-6399","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Commitment to Emissions Restrictions of Major Consumers of Electricity in Brazil"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Fabricio","family":"Casarejos","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Metrology for Quality and Innovation, Catholic University of  Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marqu\u00eas de S\u00e3o Vicente, 225-G\u00e1vea, Rio de Janeiro-RJ 22453-900, Brazil"},{"name":"Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation & Modeling Research Group (CCIAM), Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C), Faculty of Sciences, Lisbon University,  Lisboa 1749-016, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Mauricio","family":"Frota","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Metrology for Quality and Innovation, Catholic University of  Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marqu\u00eas de S\u00e3o Vicente, 225-G\u00e1vea, Rio de Janeiro-RJ 22453-900, Brazil"}]},{"given":"Gil","family":"Penha-Lopes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation & Modeling Research Group (CCIAM), Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes (CE3C), Faculty of Sciences, Lisbon University,  Lisboa 1749-016, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Vagner","family":"Silva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Postgraduate Program in Metrology for Quality and Innovation, Catholic University of  Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marqu\u00eas de S\u00e3o Vicente, 225-G\u00e1vea, Rio de Janeiro-RJ 22453-900, Brazil"}]},{"given":"Fernanda","family":"Particelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Light Servi\u00e7os de Eletricidade S\/A, Marechal Floriano, Rio de Janeiro-RJ 20080-002, Brazil"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2014,9,15]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Meadows, D., Randers, J., and Meadows, D. (2004). Limits to Growth: The 30-year Update, Chelsea Green Publishing Company."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2007). Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)."},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (2012). Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to Advance Climate Change Adaptation, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Stocker, T.F., Qin, D., Plattner, G.-K., Tignor, M.M.B., Allen, S.K., and B\u00f6schung, J. (2013). Working Group I Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"United Nations (UN) (1972). Report of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, United Nations."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Brundtland, G.H. (1987). Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future, United Nations."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Houghton, J.T., Jenkins, G.J., and Ephraums, J.J. (1990). Climate Change: The Ipcc Scientific Assessment, Cambridge University Press."},{"key":"ref_8","unstructured":"United Nation (UN) (2012). Conference on Sustainable Report of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, United Nations."},{"key":"ref_9","unstructured":"European Commission (2009). Regions 2020\u2014The Climate Change Challenge for European Regions, European Commission\u2014Directorate General Regional Policy."},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) (2011). Summary for Policy-Makers, Deutsche Nationalbibliothek."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"World Bank (WB) (2012). 4 \u00b0C the Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4 \u00b0C Warmer World Must be Avoided, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"Hoffman, A.J. (2006). Getting Ahead of the Curve: Corporate Strategies that Address Climate Change, The Pew Charitable Trusts."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Agrawala, S., and Fankhauser, S. (2008). Economic Aspects of Adaptation to Climate Change: Costs, Benefits Andpolicy Instruments, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).","DOI":"10.1787\/9789264046214-en"},{"key":"ref_14","unstructured":"Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) (2012). Business Resilience in an Uncertain, Resource-Constrained World: \u00b0C dp Global 500 Climate Change Report 2012, Carbon Disclosure Project."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"198","DOI":"10.1108\/07363760510605317","article-title":"Consumer behaviour; green marketing; social responsibility","volume":"22","author":"Cleveland","year":"2005","journal-title":"J. Consum. Mark."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1289\/ehp.118-a246","article-title":"Green washing: Do you know what you\u2019re buying?","volume":"118","author":"Dahl","year":"2010","journal-title":"Environ. Health Perspect."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"90","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.619","article-title":"Exploring the relationship between environmental orientation and brand value: Is there fire or only smoke?","volume":"19","author":"First","year":"2010","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclepro.2012.07.029","article-title":"Clients\u2019 involvement in environmental issues and organizational performance in businesses: An empirical analysis","volume":"37","author":"Junquera","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Clean. Prod."},{"key":"ref_19","unstructured":"Hoffman, A.J., and Woody, J.G. (2008). Climate Change: What\u2019s Your Business Strategy?, Harvard Business Review Press."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.618","article-title":"Mitigating climate change\u2014How do corporate strategies differ?","volume":"19","author":"Weinhofer","year":"2010","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.684","article-title":"Stakeholder engagement and environmental strategy\u2014The case of climate change","volume":"20","author":"Sprengel","year":"2011","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"United Nations (UN) (1992). Report of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, United Nations."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"United Nations (UN) (2012). Report of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, United Nations."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"World Bank (WB) (2010). State and Trends of the Carbon Market, World Bank."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"Minist\u00e9rio de Minas e Energia (MME) (2013). Balan\u00e7o Energ\u00e9tico Nacional. Ano base 2012, Minist\u00e9rio de Minas e Energia do Brasil. (In Portuguese)."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Published Decree 7390\/2010, Art. 11. Available online:http:\/\/www.planalto.gov.br\/ccivil_03\/_Ato2007-2010\/2010\/Decreto\/D7390.htm."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"Empresa de Pesquisa Energ\u00e9tica (EPE). Available online:https:\/\/ben.epe.gov.br\/downloads\/S%C3%ADntese%20do%20Relat\u00f3rio%20Final_2013_Web.pdf."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"By force of Decree 7390\/2010 of 09\/12\/2010, the estimation of Brazilian GHG emissions for 2020, as listed in art. 12 of Law 12187\/2009, is 3236 million tons CO2eq, with 868 million tons CO2eq attributed to the energy sector."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Instituto de Pesquisa Econ\u00f4mica Aplicada (IPEA) (2011). Mudan\u00e7a Do Clima No Brasil: Aspectos Econ\u00f4micos, Sociais E Regulat\u00f3rios, Instituto de Pesquisa Econ\u00f4mica Aplicada:."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"259","article-title":"Climate business for poverty reduction? The role of the world bank","volume":"6","author":"Michaelowa","year":"2011","journal-title":"Comp. Int. Stud."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santos, F.D. (2012). Humans on Earth\u2014From Origins to Possible Futures, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-05360-3"},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"European Environment Agency (EEA) (2013). Adaptation in Europe: Addressing Risks and Opportunities from Climate Change in the Context of Socio-Economic Developments, EEA."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"323","DOI":"10.1057\/gpp.2009.14","article-title":"A global review of insurance industry responses to climate change","volume":"34","author":"Mills","year":"2009","journal-title":"Geneva Pap."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) (2012). Brazil Climate Change Report: From Disclosure to Action, Carbon Disclosure Project."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"Carbon Disclosure Projet (CDP) (2012). Carbon Reductions Generate Positive ROI\u2014Carbon Action Report 2012: On Behalf of 92 Investors with Assets of $10 Trillion, Carbon Disclosure Projet."},{"key":"ref_36","unstructured":"United Nations (UN) (1998). Kyoto Protocol, United Nations."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"130","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.323","article-title":"Beyond the business case corporate sustainability","volume":"11","author":"Dyllick","year":"2002","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.711","article-title":"Corporate carbon strategies in responding to climate change","volume":"21","author":"Lee","year":"2012","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.2307\/41166305","article-title":"Climate change strategy: The business logic behind voluntary greenhouse gas reductions","volume":"47","author":"Hoffman","year":"2005","journal-title":"Calif. Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.2307\/41166304","article-title":"Business responses to climate change: Identifying emergent strategies","volume":"47","author":"Kolk","year":"2005","journal-title":"Calif. Manag. Rev."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hoffman, A.J. (2007). Carbon Strategies: How Leading Companies are Reducing Their Climate Change Footprint, University of Michigan Press.","DOI":"10.3998\/mpub.306055"},{"key":"ref_42","unstructured":"High-consuming customers of electricity power companies are designated by the Brazilian regulating agency. Aneel 414:2010 resolution classifies the consumption units into three categories: (i) blue hourly rate: 69 kV, (ii) green or blue hourly rate: less than 69 kV with a demand higher than or equal to 300 kW, and (iii) blue or green hourly rate: less than 69 kW with a demand higher than 300 kW (Aneel, 2012)."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1002\/bse.569","article-title":"How warm is the corporate response to climate change? Evidence from pakistan and the UK","volume":"14","author":"Jeswani","year":"2008","journal-title":"Bus. Strateg. Environ."},{"key":"ref_44","unstructured":"Ag\u00eancia Nacional de Energia El\u00e9trica (ANEEL) (2012). Manual do Programa de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Tecnol\u00f3gico do Setor de Energia El\u00e9trica, ANEEL."},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"Cr\u00e9halet, E. (2013). Climate Change Adaptation: Underwriting Risks for (Re)insurers, Kepler Cheuvreux-Carbon Disclosure Project."},{"key":"ref_46","unstructured":"Costa, H., and Baltazar, A. (2011). \u00cdndice acge 2011 responsabilidade clim\u00e1tica en portugal, Euronatura. (In Galician)."},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"ITBI: Tax on real estate transmission; ISS: Tax on services; IPTU: Real estate property tax; IPI: Federal value-added tax on industrialised products; ICMS: State value-added tax on sales and services."},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"For reasons of confidentiality, only aggregated data are reported. The individual CIs for each organisation are unpublished."},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"United Nations (UN) (2013). Global Corporate Sustainability Report, United Nations."},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"The \u201cCarbon Footprint\u201d calculates the direct, indirect, fixed and variable GHG emissions of the organisations."},{"key":"ref_51","unstructured":"Neto, A.L.N.d.M., Frondizi, I.M.d.R.L., Amaral, P.C., Roxo, L.C.F., Machado, B.V.Z., Rymer, J.V., Messer, P., Brajterman, O., Mattos, T.d.M., and Frondizi, F.d.R.L. (2010). Strengthening of the Brazilian Carbon Market\u2019s Institutions and Infrastructure: Levantamento de Oportunidades Concretas de Projetos de Baixo Carbono No Brasil, World Bank."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"793","DOI":"10.1093\/jeg\/lbq050","article-title":"Greening the economy: Interrogating sustainability innovations beyond the mainstream","volume":"11","author":"Davies","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Econ. Geogr."},{"key":"ref_53","unstructured":"International Organization for Standardizatio (ISO) (2008). Action on climate change. ISO Focus, 5, 1\u201348."},{"key":"ref_54","unstructured":"European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) (2011). Best Practices Recommendations on Sustainability Reporting, European Public Real Estate Association."},{"key":"ref_55","unstructured":"Environment and Human Health (EHHI) (2010). LEED Certification: Where Energy Efficiency Collides with Human Health, Environment and Human Health."},{"key":"ref_56","unstructured":"The Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Brazil Arquivos dos fatores de emiss\u00e3o de CO2eq. Available online:http:\/\/www.mct.gov.br\/index.php\/content\/view\/321144.html#ancora."},{"key":"ref_57","unstructured":"Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) (2013). G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)."},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"332","DOI":"10.1057\/jibs.2011.56","article-title":"Multinational enterprises and climate change: Exploring institutional failures and embeddedness","volume":"43","author":"Pinkse","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Int. Bus. Stud."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"367","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jwb.2009.08.001","article-title":"Trajectories of sustainability reporting by mncs","volume":"45","author":"Kolk","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. World Bus."}],"container-title":["Sustainability"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/6\/9\/6377\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T21:15:55Z","timestamp":1760217355000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/6\/9\/6377"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2014,9,15]]},"references-count":59,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2014,9]]}},"alternative-id":["su6096377"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/su6096377","relation":{},"ISSN":["2071-1050"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2071-1050","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2014,9,15]]}}}