On Friday (07/05), the event "Energy Poverty: Negative Effects of Tariff Subsidies" took place. The initiative, organized by CEBRI in partnership with Light, was a side event to the T20 Brasil Midterm Conference and will result in the publication of a policy paper on the same topic. The debate addressed the main causes of energy poverty, emphasizing the impacts of subsidies. Additionally, the event discussed innovative solutions to the energy challenges faced by developing countries, with the participation of experts from the three countries that make up the current G20 troika (India-Brasil-South Africa).

The main points of discussion included the challenges faced by developing countries in seeking clean and affordable energy, the need to balance socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability, and the specific perspectives of Brasil, South Africa, and India. Political and technical challenges in implementing renewable energy in South Africa were discussed, as well as the Indian context and its difficulties in energy distribution, along with the importance of structuring a database in Brasil for the formulation of more efficient and effective public policies.

In the national context, discussions revealed that the Brazilian electricity sector faces challenges such as energy theft, inefficient consumption, and social exclusion, with constantly rising tariffs making access to energy more difficult for poorer populations. The need to eliminate tariff distortions resulting from increasing subsidies was highlighted. Furthermore, diversifying tariffs and encouraging technological development were considered essential for promoting social justice.

Conducted in two thematic panels and moderated by Rafaela Guedes, Senior Fellow at CEBRI, and Guilherme Dantas, Senior Researcher at CEBRI and Co-founder of Essenz Soluções, the event featured the participation of: