The second and last day ofEthos 360° Conference Sao Paulo, one of the main ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance – ESG) events, held this Wednesday (18) and Thursday (19), at the Ibirapuera Biennial Pavilion, in the capital of São Paulo, presented in its opening panel a lecture byMinister of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), Vinicius Marques de Carvalho. Participating with Andrea Álvares, president of the Board of the Ethos Institute, the minister addressed the role of the CGU in promoting integrity and reinforced the importance of companies implementing ethical practices, in addition to detailing the strategies adopted to prevent corruption and the recommended actions to align corporate values with integrity standards.
“A Corruption has come to be treated as an economic problem. At the same time, it became clear that acting solely in a punitive manner is not enough. No matter how much punishment is insisted upon, only 2% or 3% of corruption cases involving companies are identified. It has been found that another strategy must be adopted to disseminate the expected standards of integrity within the corporate culture.” The minister also highlighted the success of the Pro-Ethics Seal, a partnership between the CGU and the Ethos Institute, which aims to recognize and highlight companies that adopt practices of integrity, ethics and transparency in their operations.
Combating Inequalities
Afterwards, Laís Abramo, National Secretary for Care and Family Policy, participated in the panelNational Care Policy as a tool to combat inequalitiesand addressed the barriers faced by women in accessing and remaining in the job market and highlighted the importance of the National Care Policy, a priority agenda of the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger (MDS).
Abramo explained that “The theme of care has always been present in everyone's life, especially women, but this subject only became a public agenda a year ago, when two departments were created to address this issue. She emphasized that "many times women are unable to enter the job market due to their responsibilities at home and with the family”.
The panelResponsible use of AI and combating inequalitiessought to reflect on how artificial intelligence can be used ethically and responsibly to promote inclusion and reduce inequalities. The debate featured Clarice Tavares, Human Rights Coordinator at InternetLab, who stated that the algorithm still reinforces gender discrimination.Just look at who is the singer of the first song on most playlists: a man. And posts from the LGBT population are less propagated because they contain words considered toxic by algorithm standards. There needs to be more diversity in the development of technology. To avoid and mitigate these biases, we need to invest in training people and in technology to change this pattern.”, he added.
Viviane Lisboa, coordinator of the Data Analytics Center at Prodam, recalled that “AI regulation is important to achieve data protection, transparency, security (with ethical use) and accountability of actors”. And Rafael Miranda, professor and co-director of the Jean Monet Center of Excellence on Business and Human Rights at FECAP, who completed the panel, concluded:The advancement of AI can be used to promote human rights and promote equality. It is essential to think of collaborative, multi-stakeholder solutions.”.
Climate change
The panelCOP30 and Climate Adaptation Plan: The role of companies in reducing climate vulnerability in Brazildiscussed the opportunity that Brazil has through holding the event to reaffirm its leadership in environmental preservation and in tackling the impacts of climate change, in addition to leading by example.
Inamara Melo, general coordinator of Adaptation to Climate Change at the Ministry of the Environment, highlighted that “The Climate Plan is a significant effort by the government to consolidate climate actions, but it requires everyone's engagement. The fight against climate change is a sectoral and multi-level agenda that requires a sectoral pact with many actors, including governments, companies, and civil society.”. The panel also featured the participation of Priscila Matta, Senior Sustainability Manager at Natura, and Felipe Saboya, Deputy Director of the Ethos Institute and debate mediator.
Business integrity
The panelThe Brazilian Business Sector and the Advancement of Business Integrity: Challenges and Perspectives, offered by Ypê, discussed the advancement of corporate integrity in Brazil, analyzing how companies have been facing challenges related to transparency, ethics, and responsibility. Cristine Köhler Ganzenmüller, Director of Private Integrity at the CGU, emphasized thatThere are many challenges faced, as the topic of integrity is constantly evolving. A very significant advance is the inclusion of the Human Rights agenda in the Integrity agenda. The Anti-Corruption Law and the Bidding Law are other extremely important advances”.
Pedro Rubião, Legal, Compliance, Institutional Relations and External Communications Director at Ypê, pointed out that “Ethical conduct is fundamental, but there is a long way for companies. It is important to emphasize that, yes, it is possible to act ethically and achieve the expected business results. It is necessary to put an end to the myth that private companies cannot advance on this agenda“. The panel also featured the participation of Valéria Café, general director of IBGC, and Caio Magri, CEO of the Ethos Institute, as mediator.
A Crisis of capitalism and the need for a new economic paradigmIt was the subject of a panel that addressed how recent corporate governance scandals highlighted the structural flaws of a profit-at-all-costs capitalism, raising questions about the sustainability of this economic model. João Paulo Pacífico, CEO of Grupo Gaia, explained that profit at any cost is a practice that persists to this day, but has already proven to be unsustainable.Companies need to consider impact investing, which takes into account not only financial returns, but also social and environmental returns.”. Solon Neto, co-founder and director of news and audience at Alma Preta, reinforced that this behavior is seen even in the daily news.“There is a lack of diversity even in the news. Different media outlets always report with the same bias, to the same people.”
The debate also included the participation of Adila Nascimento, Finance and Strategic Operations Manager at Sistema B Brasil, and mediation by Andrea Álvares, President of the Board of the Ethos Institute.
Deconstructing racism in language
The panelGlossary in reverse: deconstructing racism in languagepresented a proposal for deconstructing racist structural terms, developed by Black Counselors of the Council for Social and Sustainable Economic Development (CDESS/SRI/PR) and by researchers from the Audre Lorde Activist Research Group and the Activist Collective of Activist Psychoanalysts in Psychoanalysis, Education and Culture.
Mônica Veloso, vice-president of the Metalworkers' Union of Osasco, emphasized the importance of defining what racism is and where harassment begins.The workplace also builds discriminatory languages and they can become microaggressions”. She reported working with companies to develop processes to change this type of relationship.Racism is a violation of Human Rights and companies need to act”, he reinforced.
Rosangela Hilário, a permanent professor of the Academic Master's in Education/UNIR, reminded that the Brazilian language is extremely rich and does not need racist words.“Change has to start at school, with the inclusion of black students and in the way teachers treat them. We have to deconstruct structural terms of racism as a prerequisite for access to citizenship in fact.”. The panel also included the participation of Alcieli dos Santos, trainer and director of Education at Instituto Iungo, who explained that the glossary will be presented on several fronts “so that it serves as a strategic tool in combating the structural terms that consolidate naturalized racism”.
Food insecurity and fighting hunger
The panel “Food Insecurity and Fight Against Hunger", promoted by Assaí, addressed the multiple dimensions of food insecurity in the country." Kiko Afonso, CEO of Ação Cidadania, recalled that it is necessary to dialogue with various stakeholders so that Brazil can leave the UN hunger map and reach 2030 as a country with zero hunger.For the vast majority of companies, the fight against hunger (SDG 2) is not a material issue in GRI reports. That's why investments come out of Marketing and not from ESG, with smaller amounts.”, these.
Fábio Lavezo, Sustainability and Social Investment Manager at Assaí, reminded that companies have a role to play in this fight against hunger agenda.The pandemic was a time of much reflection and learning and ways to address solutions”, he stated. Furthermore, he explained that food redistribution is a greater obstacle in the fight against hunger, since currently less than 10% of uneaten food is donated in the country.We have a regulatory obstacle regarding accountability for food produced and donated", affirmed Lavezzo." The panel moderation was conducted by Glaucia Oliveira, leader of Management, People, and Organizational Development at the Ethos Institute.
Also noteworthy are the panelsCorporate Volunteering: Strengthening Organizational Culture and Generating Strategic Social Impact, organized by Raízen,Diversity, equity and inclusion – The role of companies in a more equal society, offered by Novelis, andSustainable Finance – business opportunities and financing, carried out by Banco do Brasil.
Sponsors: Diamond Sponsorship: Raízen and Novelis | Silver Sponsorship: Banco do Brasil and Federal Government | Bronze Sponsorship: ArcelorMittal, Assaí, Caixa, Copa Energia, Gerdau, Ypê | Support – Abvtex, CropLife, EuReciclo, Facility Doc, Globo, Itaú, Klabin, Porto Seguro, Rede Educare, Rumo, SmartCafé | Institutional partnership – Alcoa, Hydro, Natura, PwC, Sebrae and Shell.in
