Businesspeople propose actions to enable the transition to a carbon-neutral, equitable and nature-positive economy
Members of the Council of Leaders of CEBDS (Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development) met this week with the president of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), Aloizio Mercadante. Throughout the meeting, topics such as energy transition, green taxonomy, decarbonization of the logistics sector (transport), implementation of the regulated carbon market, promotion of hybrid finance mechanisms (blended finance) and relief actions for Rio Grande do Sul were discussed. given the historic floods that the state has faced.
One of the results of the meeting was the proposal to create a working group that will begin later this month, with the aim of supporting public policy suggestions presented by the private sector, which cover topics relevant to sustainable development. For CEBDS president Marina Grossi, it is important that Brazil takes advantage of the unique window of opportunity, as the country will preside over the G20 this year and COP 30 in 2025. She states that this is the ideal time to put sustainable development as a priority agenda.
“In this environment of trust, which is the Council of Leaders, it is possible to talk about the main issues that can be unlocked within the environmental agenda. On the journey to COP30, it is important to pave the energy transition, involving the public and private sector. At the UN Climate Conference, governments define NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but it is the private sector that puts this into practice”, says Marina.
Mercadante, in turn, cut short his participation in the meeting due to the climate crisis in Rio Grande do Sul. “The priority is to help victims, assist the homeless and reestablish communications. Climate extremes are bringing a new agenda, it is not enough for the State to take care of the structure. There is the problem of the impact on economic activity in the territory. We need new answers to recover the local economy”, he said.
The president of BNDES also recalled that, according to Bloomberg, the Bank is the institution that financed the most renewable energy on the planet. “We can continue to advance with green hydrogen, green ammonia and second generation ethanol. Also boost the bioeconomy and bioinputs, fundamental for agribusiness, a strategic sector of our economy. Other sectors in which we can advance are the decarbonization of the naval fleet, the development of green SAF, in addition to the health industrial complex. For all these reasons, BNDES will be fundamental in this process”, adds Mercadante.
“With the Council of Leaders, we have the possibility of organizing ourselves around public policies, regulation, financing, chains and innovation. Brazil has thousands of examples, such as waterways and low-impact mining. According to Bloomberg, Brazil, China, Australia and Canada have large strategic reserves for the energy transition along the electric route”, highlights the Director of Infrastructure, Energy Transition and Climate Change at BNDES, Luciana Costa.
Held at the BNDES headquarters in Rio, the meeting was attended by CEOs and presidents of some of the largest companies in the country, representing the most diverse sectors of the national economy, such as transport, communications, energy, oil and gas, cosmetics, agribusiness and sanitation, among others. In total, 32 companies participated in the meeting.
Composed of the public and private sectors, the Council of Leaders also has representatives from civil society, named “observers”. Periodically promotes meetings to discuss topics essential to the country's sustainable development. In 2024, two other meetings of the CEBDS Leadership Council are scheduled: one on 3/9 at CCR and another on 10/12 at Banco do Brasil.
About CEBDS
CEBDS, an entity that brings together more than 110 of the largest companies operating on Brazilian soil, has been working in partnership with several entities, such as the Ministries of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC ), in addition to JGP, Igarapé and WBCSD (World Business Council for Sustainable Development) in supporting the creation of public policies and business initiatives that aim to leverage the transition to the Brazilian green economy.
Companies present at the Leaders Council meeting:
Accenture, Acciona, Ambipar, Banco do Brasil, Banco do Nordeste, Banco Santander, Caixa Econômica Federal, CitroSuco SA Agroindústria, Energisa, Engie, Equinor Brasil, Hidrovias do Brasil, Iguá Saneamento, Ipiranga, JBS, Lorinvest, Michelin, Natura, Neoenergia , New Wave Tech, Petrobras, Petronas, Prumo Logística, Schneider Electric, Shell, Siemens Energy, Tim, Vale, Vibra Energia, VLI Logística, Volkswagen and Yara Brasil.
