How CESAR and Petrobras Engineered a Unified G20 Emissions Data Platform

About Petrobras: 

Brazil’s state-controlled energy giant has committed to Net Zero emissions by 2050, with $16.3 billion allocated for low-carbon projects through 2029. Since 2015, the company has achieved a 40% reduction in absolute CO₂ emissions and a 70% reduction in direct methane emissions. A UN Global Compact signatory, Petrobras ranks No. 58 on Forbes Global 2000 and No. 71 on Fortune Global 500.

Industry Context: 

Global emissions reporting remains inconsistent. G20 nations—with greater financial resources, technical expertise, and institutional frameworks—submit detailed, frequent reports. Developing countries face more flexible requirements under the Paris Agreement, but gaps in standardized metrics and data collection methods create inconsistencies across the board.

Making this fragmented data coherent, comparable, and actionable for decision-makers was the core challenge Petrobras set out to solve.

In the information age, raw data isn’t enough. It needs to be translated, connected to people, and—above all—transformed into more informed drivers of decision-making.

That was the challenge Petrobras faced ahead of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 2024: how to communicate greenhouse gas emissions data from member countries in a way that was accessible, impactful, and useful for both technical experts and general audiences.

The mission was ambitious: 

How to present highly technical—and often politically sensitive—data in a clear, attractive, and understandable format? The answer came through a collaborative data visualization solution built by Petrobras, CESAR, and researchers from UFRJ (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro), Brazil’s leading public research university.

Design First, Engineering Second

The partnership began after a Petrobras workshop focused on ideation and visualization. CESAR participated initially, then was invited to contribute what we do best: combining design, technology, and user experience to create solutions that truly make sense.

CESAR led with a “design-first” approach—prioritizing how data would be understood and used by different audiences over engineering considerations. The team defined personas, simulated user journeys, and designed interactive interfaces to guide interpretation regardless of the viewer’s familiarity with climate data.

The Sensitivity Problem: When Data Gets Political

One of the biggest challenges was the data itself. Not all G20 countries disclose emissions with the same clarity or methodology. Some rely on bottom-up estimates based on economic activity; others have rigorous measurement systems. The result: inconsistencies that can obscure real trends.

Petrobras handled data curation. CESAR tackled data standardization and normalization—carefully preserving source integrity while respecting the limits of what could be exposed.

More than a technical exercise, this was a work of listening and translation: understanding the complexities from domain experts, then transforming that knowledge into visualizations that generate genuine understanding.

G20 Debut: Patterns Revealed, Decisions Enabled

The final solution debuted at the G20 Summit, earning praise for its ability to reveal patterns and trends in emissions evolution across member nations.

But the impact went beyond well-constructed graphics. The project delivered:

• A powerful institutional positioning tool for Petrobras on the global stage
• Strategic decision support grounded in clear, comparable data
• Urgency made visible—highlighting different G20 trajectories on energy transition
• Innovation’s role reinforced in building a more sustainable future

What made this project meaningful goes beyond the deliverable. It demonstrated, once again, how the combination of design, technology, and strategy can change the way we understand major global challenges.

Well-presented data doesn’t just inform—it transforms.

Explore the complete solution and Petrobras open data →

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CESAR is a design-driven innovation hub with deep expertise in transforming complex data into strategic assets. We partner with organizations tackling ESG challenges, decarbonization efforts, and digital transformation—delivering solutions that combine user experience, data science, and real-world impact. Explore CESAR’s Energy & ESG Solutions →