Exame by Fernanda Bastos - 09/14/2023
By Writing Team
Posted in September 14, 2023
Brazilian Indigenous People at the UN event (Leandro Fonseca/Exame)
The movement’s main objective is to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 targets, focusing on preservation and development in the Amazon. Ambipar and Eletrobras are the ambassadors.
The UN Global Compact in Brazil announced, during the SDGs in Brazil, the launch of the Amazon Impact Movement, which aims to be the ninth facilitator of Ambition 2030 in Brazil. The goal is to engage companies in contributing to the sustainable development of the Amazon. Ambipar and Eletrobras are the ambassadors of the Movement.
The Movement is the first one focused on a specific region of the country and has partnerships of two types: key organizations operating in the Amazon and civil society organizations. In addition, a partnership was established with the Public Prosecutor’s Office to form working groups responsible for developing solutions to critical issues in the region.
“We need to bring together civil society actors, the private sector, and the government around this fundamental agenda for Brazil and the world. We are at a decisive moment of transition to the green economy. Now, taking action is essential. It is part of our mandate as the UN Global Compact to bring companies to commit to the Amazon,” said Carlo Pereira, CEO of the UN Global Compact in Brazil.
According to the organization, the project also aims to preserve the Amazon and the global climate to combat deforestation and promote the culture of a standing forest. The initiative includes individual, sectoral, and cross-sectoral actions, such as zero hunger and sustainable agriculture (SDG 2), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and action against global climate change (SDG 13).
The Deforestation Issue and the Standing Forest
The sectoral agreements seek to align corporate practices and productions with the most up-to-date legislation concerning the Amazon. As a result, a due diligence process will occur to assess the maturity of companies involved in the action against deforestation.
Therefore, the Amazon Impact Movement seeks to support bioeconomy and strengthen the role of indigenous peoples. Thus, the project will implement tools for monitoring the environmental and social risks of the involved companies, even those outside the Amazon region, so that each one commits to socio-environmental issues.
For Rafael Tello, Sustainability Director of Ambipar Group, taking care of the Amazon and developing a green economy in the region is essential to the company’s ambition to position itself as a leader in the low-carbon economy: “We understand the challenges and are confident that the movement will have the necessary resources to promote the region’s development and bring dignity to the people, preserving the forest and responsibly harnessing its biodiversity, environmental services, and ecosystems.”
Corporate Commitments
Companies participating in the Movement must ensure that their operations and value chains will not contribute to deforestation by 2030. Additionally, the movement includes eight focal points, such as Race is a Priority, Fair Wages, Net Zero Ambition, and +Water and Circular Connection.
“Eletrobras was already playing a significant role in the Transparency 100% Movement, and now we are the ambassadors of the Amazon Impact Movement. For us, it is a priority to be hand in hand with the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative,” said Camila Araújo, Vice President of Governance, Risk, Compliance, and Sustainability at Eletrobras.
Business and Amazon Scenario
The Business and Amazon Scenario Pulse study surveyed over 160 companies participating in the UN Global Compact in Brazil this month, and 58% of respondents say they have conducted risk analyses during a climate crisis. However, 79% stated that they do not analyze supply chain risks related to Amazon deforestation.
“The Amazon biome is highly relevant to global climate regulation, and developing actions and tools for the advancement of the business sector in this agenda is crucial. For this purpose, the Amazon Impact Movement will be decisive,” said Camila Valverde, COO and Impact Director of the UN Global Compact in Brazil. The study also reveals that 32% of companies have some mechanism to guarantee the origin of inputs, such as traceability systems and origin certification. 64% say they do not include clauses in contracts with suppliers regarding the commitment to not deforest the Amazon.
