- For three days, the nexos+1 business meeting focused on the urgency of making companies the engines of transformation that society needs to face the current crises.
- More than 950 businessmen, government and civil society representatives from Latin America and the world attended the event.
"We only have ten years to transform the future of humanity or destabilize the planet. We need a transformation to a new economic logic based on welfare. This message from Johan Rockström, climate change scientist and professor of Environmental Sciences at Stockholm University, kicked off the nexos+1 to seek collective answers to Where is the world heading? What future do we dream of for Latin America? Are companies the engine of societal transformation? How do we finance this transformation?
Achieving that transformation requires political and business leadership. As Lorna Davis, former CEO Danone USA, explained during nexus+1, “Everyone, no matter what your business is, is using the planet's resources, whether they are physical resources or human resources or sometimes both. If they do not understand the connection between these resources and their business then the financial risk is enormous.".
According to Alexia Semov, Lead of the World Economic Forum's New Nature Economy Reports, “Investing in a nature-positive pathway would generate 10 trillion dollar business and 400 million jobs”He stressed that protecting the planet's 30% would generate 5 times greater benefits than the cost of investment, opportunities that the private sector must seize.
As a result of the pandemic and the effects of climate change, consumers worldwide are understanding the importance of opting for products and services that are sustainable and nature-friendly. Helio Mattar, President & CEO of Akatu Instituto de Consumo Consciente in Brazil, said that “the importance of sustainable and nature-friendly products and services is becoming increasingly clear.“there is a shift in consumers leveraged by the pandemic which has caused them to modify their perception of the interdependence between consumption and nature”.
He stated that between 60 and 70% of consumers perceive COVID-19 and climate change as very serious global problems and 89% perceive that both require the same urgency to be resolved.
The urgency of carbon neutrality
Although Latin America generates only 8.3% of greenhouse gases that cause climate change, it faces disproportionate consequences. In response, the private sector is leading initiatives towards carbon neutrality.
Companies such as Natura, a leader in cosmetics, have designed a 2030 sustainability vision. Through the Natura Carbon Neutral program, it offsets all its carbon footprints, including those caused by the use of its products. Another of its goals is to achieve zero deforestation in the Amazon., and to achieve complete circularity of all packaging material.
“We are at a decisive time in which we have a great opportunity to innovate in the decisions we make up to 2030, which revolve around the climate crisis, human rights, circularity and regeneration,” said Denise Hills, Natura's global director of sustainability, during nexos+1.
Other companies, such as Toyota, have carbon neutral plants and products aligned with the circular economy, and Qroma, a leading paint company, seeks to reintegrate and reuse the thousands of plastic paint buckets it generates through circular economy principles.
“Currently being socially and environmentally responsible is not a matter of choice, it is the way to go.”said Rodrigo Mejia, CEO of Qroma.
Preserving ecosystems is a central focus for transformation, and that is why ISA REP, an energy transmission company, protects the entire jaguar corridor in Latin America. “In addition, we protect the forests, which are the lungs of the world, and we develop deforestation plans to add to the effort to mitigate climate change,” said Carlos Mario Caro, general manager of ISA REP.
Financing and investment towards a zero-emission world
The world's large private funds are the ones that will be able to invest in this transition to a zero-emissions world. This is what Ricardo Bosshard, director of WWF Chile, said: “We will be able to invest in this transition to a zero emissions world.“Redirect investments towards the 1.5°C climate target and of a positive nature. is where investors should focus their management,” he said.
While investors play a fundamental role in business transformation, the creators of solutions, consumers and politicians also play a very important role, which is why María Paz Cigarán, Libélula's CEO, indicated that "Each of us makes investment decisions every day., The way we consume, the products and services we choose, and our corporate choices can make a substantial difference to the environmental and social crises facing the planet.
“It's time to be 10 times bolder in our leadership. We must rethink business and understand that it cannot continue on the same path. I am here to ask you, in these unprecedented times, What kind of leader do you want to be?”concluded Halla Tómasdóttir, CEO of The B Team.
DATA
- In its sixth year, nexos+1 took place on March 2, 3, and 4, organized by Dragonfly, System B and Decarboost.
- The event was attended by businessmen and women from 26 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Spain, Italy, Panama and the United States.
- Get to know the main tweets of the event with the hashtag #nexosmasuno
- Relive the event and the different workshops at the nexos+1 facebook
- It starts from nexos+1 and learn about business transformation and resilience
on the official website.
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