Senior Technical Consultant for the Brazilian Emissions Trading

Result of Service

UNEP requires the Senior Technical Consultant for the Chemicals Sector Baseline Study to develop the technical development of a Sectoral Baseline Study for the chemicals sector (organic and inorganic, sections C5 and C6 of CNAE C) as a direct technical input to the Ministry of Finance of Brazil for the design of the sectoral regulations of the Secretaria Extraordinária do Mercado de Carbono - SBCE. The consultant will work in coordination with the Ministry of Finance of Brazil, the SBCE Permanent Technical Advisory Committee, the Working Groups in charge of providing technical guidance to the SBCE implementation process, UNEP FI LAC Policy team and, where relevant, with the Senior Technical Consultants in charge of the parallel sectoral baseline studies, to ensure methodological consistency across UNEP FI's contributions to the SBCE.

Institutional context — interlinkage between the SBCE and the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (TSB) The Ministry of Finance of Brazil has requested UNEP FI's support not only in developing the Sectoral Baseline Studies for the SBCE, but also in articulating a concrete technical link between the SBCE and the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (TSB). The Sectoral Baseline Studies developed under this consultancy are the methodological bridge between the two instruments. Accordingly, the methodology adopted under this consultancy must (i) take into account the decarbonization pathways and the technical screening criteria already developed for the chemicals sector and its constituent activities under the TSB, and (ii) be designed so that the resulting baselines can also serve as reference benchmarks under the TSB. This principle of methodological consistency applies symmetrically across UNEP FI's broader engagement with Brazil: the Sectoral Baseline Studies for all SBCE-priority sectors (chemicals, glass and ceramics, and any others developed by UNEP FI or by other institutions in coordination with the Ministry of Finance) must consider the baselines and decarbonization pathways developed for the corresponding sectors under the TSB; and the TSB technical criteria for those sectors will, in turn, incorporate the benchmarks produced under the SBCE Sectoral Baseline Studies.

Two-phase structure of the assignment Phase I — Sectoral Delimitation, Preliminary Baseline and Threshold Identification for the Chemicals Sector.

Mapping of the chemicals sector, identification of facilities potentially exceeding the 10,000 and 25,000 tCO2e thresholds, and definition of the regulatory perimeter.

Objective: To deliver a sectoral mapping and a preliminary emissions baseline for the Brazilian organic and inorganic chemicals sector that supports the MoF in defining the regulatory perimeter under the SBCE.

Phase II — Emission Factors, Benchmarks, MRV Protocols and Gap Analysis.

Objective: To develop sector-specific emission factors, carbon-intensity benchmarks, monitoring protocol recommendations and a gap analysis for the chemicals sector, calibrated to Brazilian conditions and consistent with international best practice.

Cross-cutting requirements applicable to all phases

• Coordination with UNEP LACO Team, the Ministry of Finance and the SBCE governance structure. All phases must be carried out in close coordination with UNEP LACO Team, the Ministry of Finance of Brazil, in particular the Extraordinary Secretariat for the Carbon Market (SEMC), the CTCP and its Working Groups, and in alignment with the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (TSB).
• Coordination with parallel sectoral baseline studies. Throughout the assignment, the consultant will hold coordination meetings with the technical teams developing the parallel Sectoral Baseline Studies for the other SBCE-priority sectors — in particular the studies for cement, primary aluminum, paper & cellulose and iron & steel being developed with other institutional support, and the parallel UNEP-led Sectoral Baseline Study for Glass and Ceramics — in order to ensure methodological consistency across sectors.
• Engagement with industry and treatment of data gaps. The consultant will actively engage with the Brazilian chemicals industry (including, inter alia, industrial associations, major operators and other relevant sectoral stakeholders), in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, to gather the information necessary to develop the deliverables. Technical interactions with stakeholders and industry representatives are foreseen throughout the assignment to improve understanding of production processes, to discuss methodological hypotheses and to validate the practical applicability of the proposed baselines. Any additional information shared voluntarily by industrial stakeholders — provided it is aggregated, non-confidential or explicitly authorized for use in this study — may be used to complement, calibrate or refine the analyses, without prejudice to methodological transparency. Where national-level public information is not available or is insufficient to produce a robust baseline, the consultant will propose methodological solutions (e.g., international benchmarks calibrated to the Brazilian energy matrix and predominant technologies, proxies, aggregated reference data, expert estimation and sensitivity analysis), with explicit documentation of the assumptions, limitations and uncertainties.
• Country Actors Role and the approval of deliverables. All deliverables produced under this consultancy are technical inputs intended to support the regulatory process led by the Ministry of Finance of Brazil and, including relevant bodies involved in the development of the SBCE sectoral regulation, such as the SEMC, the CTCP and its Working Groups. Final review and approval of all deliverables shall be the responsibility of UNEP. Any revisions requested by UNEP, taking into consideration inputs received through the regulatory governance structure, must be incorporated by the consultant prior to final acceptance and payment. Output 1: Inception Report and Phase I Technical Report are developed Product 1 — A document containing Report and Phase I Technical Report. The document (a) report components, must include, but not limited: detailed workplan and timeline; methodology proposal (including data sources, assumptions and treatment of data gaps); stakeholder engagement plan; plan for coordination meetings with other institution technical teams developing the parallel Sectoral Baseline Studies for cement, primary aluminum, paper & cellulose and iron & steel, and with the parallel UNEP-led Sectoral Baseline Study for Glass and Ceramics; risks and assumptions register. (b) Phase I technical content: sectoral mapping of the Brazilian organic and inorganic chemicals industry (CNAE C, sections C5 and C6) with the proposed regulatory perimeter (activities included/excluded; main emission sources covering process emissions, combustion for heat/steam, and fossil-based feedstocks and energy inputs); indicative identification of production units potentially exceeding the 10,000 and 25,000 tCO2e/year thresholds, based on publicly available statistical and energy data; records of initial coordination meetings with the institution teams and the Brazilian chemicals industrial associations. inputs and feedback from the Ministry of Finance of Brazil through the SBCE governance structure (SEMC, CTCP and Working Groups) will be required to be included in the document prior to final acceptance and payment Output 2: Phase II Report (Emission Factors, Carbon-Intensity Benchmarks, MRV Protocols and Gap Analysis) is developed Product 2 — Phase II Report (Emission Factors, Carbon-Intensity Benchmarks, MRV Protocols and Gap Analysis). Technical report on which must include: (i) sector-specific emission factors calibrated to the Brazilian energy matrix and predominant chemical technologies; (ii) carbon-intensity benchmarks (e.g., tCO2e per tonne of representative product), drawing on international references (IPCC, IEA, ECBI, BAT) and on the comparability of available public data; (iii) proposed MRV protocols for process emissions and energy-related emissions (scope 1 and 2), including simplified methodologies for smaller installations; (iv) qualitative gap analysis of the sector's readiness to comply with the mandatory Monitoring Plans by 2027 and the first MRV cycle in 2028; and (v) records of the technical interactions with industrial stakeholders and the coordination meetings with the parallel sectoral baseline studies. Inputs and feedback from the Ministry of Finance of Brazil through the SBCE governance structure (SEMC, CTCP and Working Groups) will be required to be included in the document prior to final acceptance and payment. The consultant must be a highly specialized technical expert who combines a solid background in industrial GHG emissions, MRV systems and sectoral baselines for the chemicals sector with a deep understanding of carbon-market regulatory design and of the interaction between mandatory emissions-trading systems and sustainable finance taxonomies. The consultant will be responsible in the development and execution of the following: Phase I — Sectoral Delimitation, Preliminary Baseline and Threshold Identification for the Chemicals Sector (corresponding to Product 1) Activity 1 — Inception, sectoral scoping and regulatory perimeter for the chemicals sector (corresponding to Deliverable 1) The execution of Phase I will include the following non-exhaustive sub-activities, which may be adapted to the Brazilian regulatory context as needed: Detailed scope of activities — Sectoral Baseline Study (this section consolidates the activities to be carried out under Phases I to II above; individual sub-activities are grouped under their corresponding phase and may be sequenced or refined in the inception workplan to be agreed with UNEP FI): Methodological assumptions and data sources: As a starting point, the study will draw on publicly available information, including (i) Brazilian official statistics and sectoral data (for example IBGE, EPE/MME, MCTI, ANP and other relevant federal sources); (ii) Brazilian national and sectoral GHG emissions inventories; (iii) recognized international references such as the IPCC Guidelines, IEA, ECBI and Best Available Techniques (BAT) reference documents; and (iv) technical-scientific literature and public sectoral reports. In parallel, the consultant will conduct targeted technical interactions with the Brazilian chemicals industry (including industrial associations and other relevant stakeholders), in coordination with UNEP and the Ministry of Finance, to gather and validate the information necessary to develop the deliverables. Where national-level public data are insufficient to produce a robust baseline, the consultant will propose methodological solutions (calibrated international benchmarks, proxies, aggregated reference data, expert estimation, sensitivity analysis, among others) to construct the Brazilian baseline, with explicit documentation of all assumptions, limitations and uncertainties. 1. Sectoral delimitation and regulatory perimeter — definition of the activities included and excluded from the regulatory scope; identification of the main emission sources (process emissions, combustion for heat/steam, use of fossil-based energy inputs and feedstocks). 2. Threshold identification — estimation of the distribution of emissions across installations in the sector, and indicative identification of production units potentially exceeding the 10,000 and 25,000 tCO2e/year thresholds, based on publicly available production and energy data. Phase II — Emission Factors, Benchmarks, MRV Protocols and Gap Analysis (corresponding to Product No. 2). Activities under Phase II are listed below (points 3, 4 and 5): 3. Emission factors and benchmarks — selection and adaptation of sector-specific emission factors compatible with the Brazilian energy matrix and the predominant technologies; construction of carbon-intensity benchmarks (e.g. tCO2e per tonne of representative product), drawing on international references (IPCC, IEA, ECBI, BAT) and on the comparability of available public data. 4. MRV protocols — proposal of monitoring approaches compatible with the heterogeneity of the sector, including process-emission monitoring, energy monitoring (fuels and electricity, including scope 2) and simplified methodologies for smaller installations. 5. Gap analysis — qualitative assessment of the average technical capacity of the sector to meet the MRV obligations of the SBCE; identification of the main technical challenges for the transition to mandatory Monitoring Plans from 2027 and the first MRV cycle in 2028.

Work Location

Home-based

Expected duration

6 Months

Duties and Responsibilities

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment. Its mandate is to coordinate the development of environmental policy consensus by keeping the global environment under review and bringing emerging issues to the attention of governments and the international community for action. The UNEP Latin America and the Caribbean Office (LACO), located in Panama City, Panama works closely with the 33 countries of the region, and its activities are integrated into the Medium-Term Strategy and the Programme of Work approved by the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA).

The overall objective of the UNEP’s Economy Division is to encourage decision makers in government, local authorities and industry to develop and adopt policies, strategies and practices and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources, ensure safe management of chemicals and contribute to making trade and environment policies mutually supportive. It promotes the development, use and transfer of policies, technologies, economic instruments, managerial practices and other tools that assist in environmentally sound decision making and the building of corresponding activities.

The United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) is the strategic partnership between the United Nations and over 500 banks, insurers and investors. For over 30 years UNEP FI has been shaping and driving the international sustainable finance agenda, setting global standards and growing a global network of leading financial institutions. Through its work-stream and regional activities, peer learning, methodology development, training and research, UNEP FI promotes sustainable finance and helps the financial industry align with and contribute to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals.

Global policy and regulatory measures on sustainable finance have increased substantially over recent years. Public policy critically affects the ability of finance institutions to generate sustainable positive and reduce negative impacts through financing decisions. It affects the sustainability and stability of financial markets, as well as social, environmental and economic systems. Sustainable finance policies have become central to enabling and accelerating a successful transition.

In December 2024, Brazil enacted Law No. 15.042/2024, which created the Brazilian Emissions Trading System (Sistema Brasileiro de Comércio de Emissões — SBCE), establishing the legal basis for a national regulated carbon market based on a cap-and-trade model. The Law defines emissions thresholds of 10,000 and 25,000 tCO2e per year, which trigger different sets of reporting and compliance obligations for facilities and operators across the regulated economy.

In October 2025, the Federal Government created the Extraordinary Secretariat for the Carbon Market (Secretaria Extraordinária do Mercado de Carbono — SEMC) within the Ministry of Finance (MoF), with the mandate to coordinate the implementation of the SBCE and to develop the necessary infralegal framework. The SEMC has prioritized the completion of all sectoral regulations by December 2026, and on 12 May 2026 the SBCE Permanent Technical Advisory Committee (Comitê Técnico Consultivo Permanente — CTCP) published the package of resolutions that established the Working Groups in charge of providing technical support to the SBCE implementation process. The MoF has also presented a preliminary phased proposal for sectoral coverage, beginning in 2027 with paper & pulp, iron & steel, cement, primary aluminum, oil & gas (E&P and refining) and air transport, and extending in a second phase to mining, recycled aluminum, electricity, glass, food & beverages, chemicals, ceramics and waste management. Public consultation of the first set of sectoral norms is expected in Q4 2026.

Within this implementation timeline, the MoF has identified the need for evidence-based Sectoral Baseline Studies for specific sectors that will eventually be covered by the SBCE. The MoF has formally requested UNEP's specialized technical expertise to develop Sectoral Baseline Studies for the priority sectors: Mining and Manufacturing (Chemicals, Glass, and Ceramics). These studies will establish standardized emission benchmarks and reference performance levels, providing the MoF with the technical foundation required to engage industrial stakeholders and to define the sectoral regulations (MRV protocols and allocation rules) due for public consultation in Q4 2026.

In this context, UNEP is seeking a senior technical consultant with proven expertise in industrial decarbonization and GHG emissions in the chemicals (organic and inorganic) sector to develop a Sectoral Baseline Study and supporting technical inputs for the implementation of the SBCE. The scope of this consultancy covers the production of organic and inorganic chemicals (sections C5 and C6 of the CNAE C — Manufacturing — booklet of the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy, TSB) [5], including basic inorganic chemicals (e.g. acids, bases, salts, industrial gases), basic organic chemicals (e.g. basic petrochemicals, solvents, chemical intermediates) and the main industrial processes associated with material GHG emissions.

The goal of this consultancy is to develop a Sectoral Baseline Study and technical benchmarks of GHG emissions intensity (scopes 1 and 2) for the chemicals sector, providing the Ministry of Finance of Brazil — through its Carbon Market Secretariat (SEMC) — with a transparent, evidence-based methodology and reference performance levels to inform the design of the sectoral norms of the SBCE, including the MRV protocols and the allocation rules to be subject to public consultation in Q4 2026.

Under the supervision of the UNEP FI´s Policy Lead for Latin America and the Caribbean, and working in close coordination with the Global Policy Lead at UNEP FI. The consultant will work from home.

Qualifications/special skills

ACADEMIC:

• Bachelor´s Degree in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Energy Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Sciences, Economics, Public Policy or related fields is required.
• Master's Degree in the following areas Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Energy Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Sciences, Economics, Public Policy or related fields is required. PROFESSIONAL:
• Six (6) years of professional experience and expertise in industrial GHG emissions accounting, sectoral baselines, carbon market design (ETS) and/or industrial decarbonization is required.
• Experience in the formulation of sectoral climate policy, sectoral baselines or emissions benchmarking for industrial sectors is desirable.
• Knowledge on Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) systems is desirable.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience in developing sector-specific emission factors, carbon-intensity benchmarks (e.g. tCO2e per tonne of product) and/or MRV protocols compatible with the IPCC Guidelines, IEA, ECBI, Best Available Techniques (BAT) reference documents or comparable international references is desirable.
• Experience in engaging with and providing technical advice to public authorities (ministries of finance, environment, energy) and/or industrial associations on the implementation of ETS, MRV regulations or sectoral decarbonization roadmaps is desirable.
• Knowledge of the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (TSB), Law No. 15.042/2024 and the regulatory architecture of the SBCE is an asset.
• Exceptional analytical and reporting skills, with the ability to conduct in-depth assessments of industrial processes against carbon-intensity benchmarks with a focus on the chemical sector is desirable. The candidate must be skilled in performing gap analyses, identifying best practices, and formulating concrete technical recommendations for regulatory norms for the chemical sector is desirable.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical projects, from conception to delivery, including defining methodological approaches, managing diverse stakeholders, and overseeing the production of technical deliverables, is desirable.
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate complex technical information to a variety of audiences, from senior policy makers to industrial stakeholders, is desirable.
• Experience working with Latin American and Caribbean countries, in particular Brazil, is desirable.
• Ability to deliver at speed and to adapt to client / country needs is desirable. LANGUAGE:
• Fluent in English is required.
• Fluent in Portuguese is required.
• Fluent in Spanish is desirable. ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Package (Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) collaborative platforms (i.e., Teams, Google Drive) and virtual meeting platforms (i.e. Webex, Zoom, etc.) is desirable;
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills;
• Ability to present complex issues in simple and clear manner;
• Ability to communicate trends and impacts to high-level and mid-senior level management;
• Ability to consult, build, and maintain solid working relationships in and outside of immediate department;
• Demonstrates integrity and ethical standards;
• Ability to work under pressure and deliver high quality results on time. Competencies:
• Professionalism: Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. He/she shows pride in work and in achievements; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions.
• Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• Teamwork: Is able to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team to achieve organizational goals and to take leadership when appropriate; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Languages

Not available.

Additional Information

Not available.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.