In a statement to the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary, companies and institutions express concern about the negative international perception of Brazil in relation to the Amazon
The Brazilian business sector filed this Monday (6) with the Vice-Presidency of the Republic and the National Council for the Legal Amazon, chaired by Hamilton Mourão, a statement in defense of the sustainable development agenda and combating deforestation in the Amazon. The document is signed by the CEOs of around 40 companies and business groups in the industrial, agricultural and services sectors, in addition to four organizations: Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS); Brazilian Agribusiness Association (Abag); Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá), and Brazilian Association of Vegetable Oil Industries (ABIOVE). The document will also be filed with the Federal Supreme Court, Federal Senate, Chamber of Deputies and the Attorney General's Office (PGR).
The letter's main objective is to highlight “the attention and concern about the impact on business of the current negative perception of Brazil's image abroad in relation to socio-environmental issues in the Amazon”, in addition to pointing out immediate actions to be adopted to alleviate negative reactions from foreign investors and consumers to the country.
The executives point out that the negative image has enormous potential for harm to Brazil, not only from a reputational point of view, but effectively for the development of businesses and fundamental projects for the country. “It is necessary for the federal government to provide guarantees to the Brazilian business sector that some of the actions and commitments we are presenting will come to fruition”, argues Marina Grossi, president of CEBDS.
In relation to the Amazon and other Brazilian biomes, the group defends an inflexible and comprehensive fight against illegal deforestation. “For the business sector that operates within the law and in a correct, socially and environmentally responsible manner, there is no controversy between producing and preserving. Even the Forest Code itself, created after a broad dialogue between academia, environmentalists, the private sector and public authorities, establishes conservation and production as one of its premises. Illegal deforestation is a crime”, summarized Paulo Hartung, president of Ibá.
In the statement, the business sector recalls that some of the signatory companies already develop business solutions based on the bioeconomy, with added value and product traceability, including in the Amazon. “It is possible to scale up good practices based on consistent policies to promote the environmental, social and governance agenda”, stated Marcello Brito, president of Abag.
In addition to the effective fight against illegal deforestation, the document highlights the following as priority focuses for action: (i) social and economic inclusion of local communities to guarantee the preservation of forests; (ii) minimization of the environmental impact in the use of natural resources, seeking efficiency and productivity in the economic activities derived therefrom; (iii) valorization and preservation of biodiversity as an integral part of business strategies; (iv) adoption of carbon credit trading mechanisms; (v) directing financing and investments towards a circular and low-carbon economy; and (vi) incentive packages for economic recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, conditioned on a circular and decarbonized economy.
The document ends with a message of optimism, remembering that Brazil has the unique opportunity, the resources, and the knowledge to scale up good practices and, more than that, strategically plan the country's sustainable future. And it is necessary to redirect investments to confront and recover the Brazilian economy in a circular, low-carbon, and inclusive economy model.
