Brazilian Business Leadership Embraces Sustainability as Strategic Imperative
José Goldemberg and Times | CNBC highlight sustainability as a strategic business focus for Brazil amid climate financing challenges and upcoming international forums.
- • José Goldemberg stresses sustainability's importance for business success and environmental health.
- • Retail and service sectors in Brazil can lead in sustainability adaptation and efficiency.
- • Bureaucratic hurdles limit small and medium enterprises' access to climate financing.
- • Brazil's insurance market is underdeveloped in climate-related coverage compared to international markets.
- • Times | CNBC International Summit will explore Brazil's economic and sustainable innovation prospects in 2026.
Key details
As Brazil prepares for COP30, José Goldemberg, president of the Sustainability Council at FecomercioSP and a noted physicist, underscores sustainability as both a business opportunity and environmental responsibility. He emphasizes that while retail and services sectors are not the largest greenhouse gas emitters, they hold significant potential to lead adaptation and efficiency efforts. Goldemberg advocates for innovative public policies like the IPTU Verde tax incentive to promote low-carbon practices without imposing additional costs.
However, Goldemberg highlights challenges facing small and medium enterprises (SMEs), noting that climate financing is often difficult to access due to bureaucratic hurdles. Brazil's insurance market also lags behind international counterparts in providing coverage for climate-related damages, a gap impacting business resilience.
Complementing these insights, the upcoming Times | CNBC International Summit scheduled for November 26 in London will address Brazil's economic outlook in 2026, featuring discussions on sustainable innovation in clean energy, industry, and agribusiness. Douglas Tavolaro, president of Times | CNBC, describes the event as a vital platform for exchanging strategic ideas among global and Brazilian business leaders, reinforcing sustainability's role within Brazil's growth agenda.
Goldemberg's message to Brazilian entrepreneurs is clear: sustainability drives cost reduction, competitive advantage, and aligns with a global shift towards responsible business practices, making it a strategic necessity rather than optional ethics.