Paths to Ecological Transformation

Forest asset preservation, conservation, and regeneration are directly linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a fundamental part of the commitments made in the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda. SDG 15 addresses the protection of biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems. The protection of existing forests against degradation and destruction, the maintenance of traditional peoples, the sustainable use of forest resources through sustainable forest management practices, environmental certifications and land use policies, and the restoration of degraded or deforested forest areas are crucial actions to ensure a sustainable and balanced future for our planet.

The Sustainable Finance pillar presents a set of fiscal, tax, regulatory, and financial measures to encourage allocating public and private resources into sustainable, innovative, and inclusive activities, reducing environmental and climate risks. Among its actions, we can cite the issuance of sustainable sovereign bonds (bonds that finance socio-environmental projects), whose values are converted to the Climate Fund, operated by BNDES (National Bank for Economic and Social Development); the creation of the Regulated Carbon Market, a bill already approved that places Brazil at the forefront of the decarbonisation effort; the Selective Tax from the tax reform on activities that impact health and the environment, and the IPVA with different rates based on the environmental impact of vehicles.

The axis encourages the technological densification of the Brazilian productive sector, promoting decarbonisation through sustainable alternatives—via research, development, innovation, and international cooperation—impacting production chains and generating well-paid green jobs. Among the actions are the resumption of investments from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT), focusing on technological missions for national challenges, integrating academic research with the productive sector, a new industrial policy for manufacturing electric and hybrid vehicles in Brazil, with tax incentives; and measures to support the national production of solar panels and wind turbine components.

The Bioeconomy and Agri-Food Systems axis has the conservation of our biomes and ecosystems as strategic points. Its challenge is creating economic and technological solutions for people to thrive and conserve the biomes around them. Among its actions, we mention the Program to encourage productivity and mechanisation in family farming and bioeconomy; the Harvest Plan with sustainability initiatives within the low-carbon agriculture program—for practices such as Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration (ILPF), agroforestry systems (SAF), no-till farming and use of bio-inputs; the Amazon Fund and the incentive for reforestation focused on areas with the highest deforestation; and the International Forest Preservation Fund.

This is an axis in which Brazil plays an outstanding international role, as it has vast renewable energy sources. The country is also one of the world's leading producers of biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel), representing a sustainable alternative to fossil fuel dependency. Among its actions are the increase of the mandatory blend of biodiesel in diesel to 15% by 2026; investment in public transport (BRT, subways, exclusive lanes); and the creation of the Green Mobility and Innovation Program (MOVER), which stimulates investments in new technological routes and increases the demands for decarbonisation of the Brazilian automotive fleet.

The Circular Economy seeks to promote alternatives to the current model of extracting, processing, and disposing of materials in nature, with less demand for new natural resources and reduced waste. The goal is to generate a circular production model based on reuse, remanufacturing, recycling, energy recovery, and reduced use of materials. Among the actions are the relaunch of the Pró-Catador program aimed at promoting and defending the rights of waste pickers through support to municipalities in expanding selective collection and use of biodigesters and the creation of the decree that establishes the National Circular Economy Strategy (ENEC), which encourages the construction of innovative solutions in the very conception and use of industrial products and sustainable practices.

The axis proposes new infrastructure that contributes to adapting to the effects of climate change and is capable of withstanding environmental disasters, for example. Proper risk management can reduce damage to human life and the economy, generate new urban solutions and increase resilience. Among its actions, we mention the urbanisation of favelas and public works to prevent disaster risks, such as landslides and floods, in addition to creating specific programs for the most vulnerable municipalities and strategies for the security and resilience of agriculture, energy and sanitation.