Expanding sugarcane ethanol production in Brazil - Socioeconomic and climate effects of expanding sugarcane ethanol production in the Pontal do Paranapanema region (State of S\ue3o Paulo, Brazil)

This paper presents results from a study of socioeconomic and climate effects connected to a sugarcane expansion scenario in the Pontal do Paranapanema region, S\ue3o Paulo state, Brazil. Sugarcane production is expected to grow in the S\ue3o Paulo state. Pontal do Paranapanema is the only region in the state where a large scale sugarcane expansion can take place and there is a concern that without guidelines the expansion might affect income growth in a negative way. A scenario where the settlers in the region gain from the sugarcane expansion was modelled. The models showed that it is possible to introduce sugarcane in the region with positive effects both on income growth and greenhouse gas emissions