Initiatives aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and water footprint; total contribution is R$ 725 thousand

Nine projects from six Brazilian states—Santa Catarina, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Pará, Pernambuco, and Mato Grosso—were selected in the 2017 edition of the Ecomudança Program, created by Itaú Unibanco, a CEBDS member company, in partnership with the Ekos Brasil Institute. The initiative encourages and promotes projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including initiatives related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste management, forestry, sustainable agriculture, and mobility, as well as water footprint reduction projects, such as the construction of cisterns or desalination plants in critical areas and wastewater treatment.

This year, the program received over 1,200 applications—six times more than last year. Comprising four evaluation stages, the selection process was based on the project's potential socio-environmental impact, potential for replication in other locations, and an analysis of its execution and implementation capabilities.

The total funding for the nine selected projects is approximately R$1,000,000. The financial support comes from the Ecomudança Itaú fixed-income fund, which allocates R$3,000 of its management fees to the program. This fund aims to transform Itaú clients' investments into benefits for society. "The 2017 call for proposals yielded excellent results, with projects supported in every region of the country. With this, Ecomudança reinforces our purpose of stimulating people's power of transformation and also our commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially Goal 13, which aims to combat climate change," says Denise Hills, Superintendent of Sustainability and Inclusive Business at Itaú Unibanco.

Learn more about Ecomudança

Since its inception in 2009, Ecomudança has invested R$5.3 million in 48 projects across dozens of Brazilian cities. More than 1,300 families have benefited directly, with more than half of them experiencing an income increase of over R$101,300. The initiatives included have already contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere by 22,000 tons. Nonprofit organizations, such as social organizations, foundations, cooperatives, and associations—including those operating as social movements—are eligible to participate in the program. Further information is available on the website. https://www.itau.com.br/sustentabilidade/riscos-e-oportunidades-socioambientais/ecomudanca/.

CHECK OUT THE PROJECTS SELECTED IN THE 2017 EDITION OF THE ECOMUDANÇA PROGRAM: