A governança ambiental e a mineração na Amazônia

Environmental governance in Brazil continues to be a complex and intriguing challenge given the vast expanse of territory, the diversity of ecosystems, and the economic interests involved.

Companies committed to environmentally responsible practices are already reaping rewards. Innovation processes, sustainable certifications, corporate social responsibility, and measures to promote circular economy are driving positive changes across various sectors. It is important to note that the path to stronger environmental governance in Brazil requires continuous collaboration among the government, civil society, and the private sector to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Thus, as global demand for minerals rises, balancing this demand with the need to protect the environment and the rights of local communities is an important and ongoing challenge for its improvement. Many companies, especially larger ones, are under significant pressure from investors and public opinion to adopt more responsible and sustainable mining practices. This pressure has become even greater and more evident following the accidents in Mariana-MG and Brumadinho-MG. Regarding mining in the Amazon Biome, this is undoubtedly a sensitive and widely discussed issue due to the complex challenges faced by entrepreneurs that go far beyond obtaining environmental permits and meeting regulatory pressures.

Governança Ambiental no contexto da Amazônia

However, the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, home to a wide variety of fauna and flora species, with a high degree of endemism, traditional communities, indigenous peoples, and natural wealth. Mineral exploration in these areas should not only comply with legal requirements but, to achieve the necessary credibility and legitimacy, must be carried out by companies that adhere to the principles of environmental governance. It is clear at this point that only companies with a positive reputation among their customers, employees, investors, and society as a whole can progress sustainably in these territories, contributing to the economic development of these regions while preserving the environment.

In this perspective, ESG practices in mining companies have gained increasing prominence in investment and business management nos últimos anos e este, seguramente, continuará a ser um tema relevante à medida que as empresas e investidores buscam equilíbrio entre o desempenho financeiro e o impacto social e ambiental. O pilar “Ambiental”, ademais, deve ser trabalhado tendo como ponto de partida uma avaliação inicial ou diagnóstico profundo da organização e de suas operações. Nesta etapa realiza-se uma verificação cuidadosa dos processos internos e projetos para que seja possível estabelecer as ações de transformação necessárias na empresa.  Métodos de padronização das análises e resultados também são recomendáveis.

Conclusão

In conclusion, is there a ready-made recipe for mining ventures in the Amazon? Methodologies and success stories exist and should be considered, but it is important to remember and emphasize that organizations have their own identity, organizational culture, values, and way of operating, which greatly influence how they present themselves to the market and interact with stakeholders. Companies have beliefs, behaviors, and practices that often define how decisions are made, and these aspects should also be addressed. Finally, specialized consultancies have been fundamental in this process, as they have multidisciplinary teams with the expertise needed to identify opportunities for improving environmental management processes, their relationship with the environment, innovation, adoption of cleaner technologies and sustainable practices, as well as contributing to the systematic process of defining goals and indicators, appropriate in each case, allowing companies to monitor and demonstrate their results and progress.

Acreditamos firmemente que, a partir do momento em que as práticas adequadas de governança ambiental baseada nos princípios ESG forem adotadas, estaremos habilitados a um futuro brilhante. Brilhante e sustentável, ambientalmente e economicamente.