Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America and plays a prominent role in the global sustainability agenda. As one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, with vast natural resources, high agricultural productivity, and a growing industrial sector, Brazil possesses enormous potential for transformation. At the same time, there are deep-seated social inequalities, regional disparities, and structural tensions between extractivism, indigenous land use, urban poverty dynamics, and ecological tipping points—particularly in the Amazon region. With a democratically elected, sustainability-oriented federal government and an active civil society, Brazil is now positioning itself as a shaper of a new balance between economic sovereignty, social inclusion, and ecological integrity.
The Brazilian federal government is pursuing a multidimensional development strategy that integrates national equality, climate protection, and production sovereignty. These programs are interlinked and mark a clear shift toward a socially just, environmentally sound growth strategy within the framework of the 2030 Agenda:
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A central framework for planning investments in health, education, infrastructure, and the green economy—with a clear focus on social justice and climate adaptation.
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Long-term framework for climate protection and emissions reduction (goal: climate neutrality by 2050), including sector-specific transition pathways for agriculture, energy, industry, and forestry.
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A strategy for reindustrialization focused on green value creation, technological sovereignty, the circular economy, and decarbonization—particularly in regions with an industrial gap.
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A specific development framework for the Amazon region, focusing on the bioeconomy, the inclusion of indigenous peoples, infrastructure modernization, and the protection of sensitive ecosystems.
Despite declines in recent years, deforestation in the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal remains one of the greatest ecological threats. Biodiversity loss and CO₂ emissions threaten global climate goals and local livelihoods.
In northern and northeastern Brazil, over 50% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Indigenous groups and smallholder farmers are fighting for land rights, while large-scale agro-industrial projects are often implemented without local input.
In megacities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador de Bahia, there are massive social disparities. Millions of people live in favelas with inadequate access to education, healthcare, and sustainable infrastructure.
Although the energy sector relies on renewable sources for about 45% of its supply, agriculture and transportation are highly carbon-intensive. Large-scale soybean cultivation, the export economy, and livestock production lead to significant emissions, soil loss, and water pollution.
Brazil is participating in the International Conference on the Future of the Amazon (Belém, 2023), is a member of the Tropical Forest Alliance, and receives multilateral climate finance through the Amazon Fund (from Norway, Germany, the UK, and others).
As a member of the G20 and a BRICS nation, Brazil combines South-South cooperation with efforts to drive global reform. The 2024 G20 presidency will, for the first time, bring the bioeconomy, food sovereignty, and social justice into the geopolitical spotlight.
Under the EU-Mercosur Agreement, cooperation programs are underway in the areas of sustainable agriculture, climate action, digital transformation, and education. Thematic partnerships have also been established with the UNDP, FAO, and IDB.
The Green Nations Foundation works with partners in Brazil across four key areas of transformation:
– Forest Conservation & Indigenous Alliances
Support for participatory forest conservation models, territorial rights, monitoring capacities, and indigenous-led bioeconomy initiatives—for example, in the Amazon and the Cerrado.
– Food Sovereignty & Agroecological Systems
Promoting regenerative agriculture, local markets, water security, and agroforestry—particularly in the semi-arid regions of the Northeast (Caatinga).
– Urban Ecology & Social Inclusion
Integration of climate-resilient infrastructure, waste management, and green mobility in outlying neighborhoods—including community-based initiatives and educational programs for young people.
– Green Industry & Circular Economy
Collaboration with innovation ecosystems (including those in São Paulo and Curitiba) to develop green manufacturing, recycling industries, and solar and biogas technologies.
Our work in Brazil specifically contributes to the following goals of the 2030 Agenda:
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