U.S.-Brazil CEO Forum advocates “robust environmental sustainability agenda”

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Under international pressure, Brazil participates this Thursday in the Leaders’ Climate Summit, organized by U.S president Joe Biden, with the support and high expectations of entrepreneurs comprising the Brazil-United States CEO Forum, responsible for promoting and increasing trade and investments between the two countries for 14 years.

This support was manifested in the “Environmental Sustainability Letter,” sent to the Ministries of Environment, Economy, Civil House, and Foreign Relations last week, where the bloc expresses to the government its support to the “creation of a robust environmental sustainability agenda”.

“It is in this context that we come, through this action, to support new agendas on issues of utmost importance not only for governments, but also for the entire civil society.”

“We refer to an environmental agenda with advances in proposals for a post-covid-19 sustainable economic recovery,” reads the letter, signed by businessman Marco Stefanini, co-chair of the Brazilian Section of the Brazil-United States CEO Forum.

“Thus, as we issue our support for the need for a robust environmental sustainability agenda, we see this as an opportunity to cooperate and share effective results in environmental actions, as well as suggest measures and actions that may be aligned with global goals in environmental sustainability,” the document adds.

Stefanini, founder and global CEO of Stefanini Group, told Valor that the document’s goal is to show that “the private sector is interested in an approximation and agreement between Brazil and the USA, that it understands the importance of the environmental agenda, and wants to cooperate.”

In the letter, the bloc proposes four lines of action, starting by fighting illegal deforestation in Brazilian biomes, one of the main demands from other countries, including the United States, which is promoting the climate summit.

The entrepreneurs also recommend the promotion of actions to reduce the environmental impact of production chains, and to increase efficiency and productivity by directing funding and investments to a circular and low-carbon economy, based on performance indicators (KPI’s) and good environmental sustainability practices.

Another proposal is the valuation of environmental assets and biodiversity, focusing on social and economic inclusion of local communities to ensure the preservation of forests. The fourth proposal is the constitution of an investment policy for research and development in bioeconomy.

“Any plan has to be gradual, we are not going to solve deforestation in a month, we need a plan in which each one does their part. With this, we will be building a positive narrative of trust,” Stefanini argued.

Created in 2007, the CEOs Forum prepares recommendations for governments from the meeting between business leaders of the two countries. On the Brazilian side, in addition to the Stefanini Group, the CEOs of Natura, WEG, Embraer, Gerdau, Minerva Foods, iFood, Stone and Petrobras are also part of the bloc. Comprising 10 members, the bloc is now operating with 9, pending the appointment by the government of the 10th representative.

The document was signed by Roberto Castello Branco, representing Petrobras, since General Joaquim Silva e Luna has not yet been sworn in as the head of the state-owned company.

Source: Valor