Who we are

CEBDS is a non-profit civil association that promotes sustainable development for companies that operate in Brazil by interacting with governments and civil society, in addition to divulging the most modern concepts and practices pertaining to the theme. CEBDS was founded in 1997 by a group of business leaders aware of the changes and opportunities that sustainability presents, especially after the Rio 92 event.

The council is currently comprised of 60 of the largest business groups in the country, with revenues accounting for 40% of GDP and over 1 million direct jobs.

CEBDS is the Brazilian partner of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Global Network, an alliance of more than 60 CEO-led business organizations around the world, united by a shared commitment to provide business leadership for sustainable development in their respective countries and regions.

Forefront

First institution in Brazil to address sustainability within the Triple Bottom Line concept, which governs the activities of companies based on three pillars: economic, social and environmental, CEBDS is the point of reference on the sustainability forefront for both for companies as well as partners and governments. It is recognized as the main business sector representative taking leadership role in a revolutionary change process: transform the traditional economic model into a new paradigm.

CEBDS was responsible for the first Sustainability Report for Brazil in 1997 and helped implement the main tool for measuring greenhouse gas emissions in Brazil, the GHG Protocol, in partnership with the WRI (World Resources Institute) and FGV (Fundação Getúlio Vargas), starting in 2008.

Representativeness

The institution represents its members in all the UN Conferences of the Parties on Climate Change since 1998, and on Biological Diversity since 2000. In addition, it belongs to the Commission for Sustainable Development Policies and Agenda 21; the Management Council on Genetic Heritage; The Brazilian Forum on Climate Change and the Management Committee of the National Sustainable Consumption Plan; the World Water Council and the Natural Capital Coalition.

In 2018 Marina Grossi, president of CEBDS, also joined the Steering Committee of the Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC), a coalition of the World Bank that brings together government, private sector, academia and civil society leaders to expand use of carbon pricing policies.