Article originally published on the website of Project #Colabora
Together, the government plans of the 13 presidential candidates total 563 pages, with some having less than 10 and one having more than 200. Together, the term “sustainable” is mentioned 75 times, with at least three of them (with lower poll numbers) not even mentioning it, and four of them appearing as a vague reference that does not clarify the real objectives. Speaking of The president of CEBDS emphasizes that the presidential candidates ignore basic concepts of sustainable development. Read the full article published on the website #Colabora. and positioning oneself as an effective proponent requires the candidate to be more assertive about the paths to be followed. The fallacy of a development that is “sustainable” in terms of terms but unfeasible in practice has already consumed too much resources, time and patience of the struggling Brazilian society.
The fallacy of a development that is “sustainable” in terms but unfeasible in practice has already consumed too much resources, time and patience from the struggling Brazilian society. Also, linking the term to the economy, social issues or the environment separately should be an outdated practice. The concept of sustainability, as only three candidates mentioned in more detail, encompasses a broader scope than reforestation or environmental care – and these two aspects obviously cannot be forgotten.
The sustainability of a well-established society, ready for development on solid foundations, comes from efficient use of its natural resources, with due care to ensure that they are not exhausted; but it must also be based on good education and health policies that allow for the reduction of inequality in wealth and culture in the country. Only with greater social justice can we strengthen local production, aiming to serve the domestic or foreign market, generating qualified jobs that can incorporate these equally qualified workers into the challenges that lie ahead with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
A sustainable society is one that knows its rights, that designs its laws to preserve the common good, and that seeks at all costs to preserve its natural resources as the best way to guarantee its livelihood for future generations.
A sustainable country is aware of its international commitments and the need to fulfill them in favor of a new geopolitics that will make us even more competitive. The candidate for the highest executive office in the country cannot shirk these commitments, which are of the State and not of previous governments. He or she has the duty to make himself or herself available to fulfill agreements that benefit Brazilian society at a global and local level.
We are talking about sustainability, and we are talking about business. The new president will have a first year of government in which there is a possibility that Brazil will host the next one. World Climate Conference, given its leading role and the opportunities that exist for the country to take the lead in these discussions in the world. And this issue is no less important than health, education, or even security; which seems to be the theme of the polarized discussions of the 2018 elections; as it permeates all of them.
Talking about climate means talking about the scarcity of water resources; it means talking about carbon emissions that can be taxed and used to finance renewable energy; it means talking about basic sanitation, and therefore, the prevention of diseases generated by this problem that dates back to the 19th century; it means talking about the generation of direct employment, from new sustainable ventures generated by reforestation, and with the implementation of projects of smartgrid. Talking about sustainability, at this point, is like identifying the “goat in the room”, because, after all, it deals with our future, in all aspects and it seems like carelessness on the part of the candidate who does not give due importance to the topic.
Aware of our fundamental role in promoting the meeting between the desires of society, the experiences of our associated companies, and the elaboration of public policies in favor of a sustainable tomorrow, the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) prepared an agenda with ten proposals cross-cutting issues such as energy efficiency, basic sanitation, equal rights, emissions reduction and the effective creation of a carbon market in Brazil to finance renewable energy and reforestation. This agenda is being delivered to presidential candidates and other candidates and will be closely monitored by the National Congress in the coming years.
We have already lost too many opportunities due to the lack of sustainable debates about the future. There is no longer time to ignore these gaps. We need to fill them. We are doing our part, and we hope that together, government, society and companies, we can advance on issues that address these concerns.
