能源安全是各國政府共同的關切，自主與多元則是能源安全的指標。21世紀的新興能源大國巴西，堪稱全球模範。然而40年前的巴西卻也只是一個以化石燃料為重，高度倚賴進口能源的國家。巴西能夠在短短數十年間脫胎換骨，躋身全球前十大能源供應國，此不僅令人欣羨，更值得探討。簡言之，成功關鍵就在政府因勢制宜的政策。本文將依序從巴西「能源組合的現況與政策演進」、「能源政策之特色與成效」、「能源政策的成功之道與爭議之處」等三部分，探討巴西的成功轉型。「上帝是巴西人」這句巴西諺語，在外人聽來或許有些滑稽，但對照巴西的能源發展，倒也有幾分巧合。不過真正的推手還是巴西政府。他山之石，可以攻錯，巴西的成功經驗對其他發展中國家來說，當也有一定的參考價值。

Energy security is the common concern of modern states. Ensuring energy supply is secure means working both in the short term to minimize risks of any unplanned interruptions - and in the long term to have the right policies in place. This article examines the case of Brazil, currently the 2^(nd) largest producer of ethanol fuel in the world. In 2006, Brazil achieved self-sufficiency in crude oil. Today, the Brazilian energy matrix is one of the cleanest in the world, with a strong presence of renewable energy. Brazilian state policies were directly responsible for the success. In the case of Brazil, it shows that there are viable alternatives to a purely petroleum-based economy, if the state is willing to shape markets and technologies into productive directions. The development of Brazilian energy policy has major implications for neighboring Latin American countries and the rest of the world.