Amid the growing impacts of the climate crisis and increasing demands from the global market, Brazilian companies are facing an economic imperative to integrate sustainable practices into their business models. While the international political landscape shows signs of setbacks in environmental policies, the realities of climate change are imposing concrete costs on production chains, requiring consistent and proactive responses from the private sector. In this context, the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) agenda has evolved from a market differentiator into a strategic imperative for companies. The Brazilian government has been advancing essential initiatives to strengthen the regulatory environment in this area.

One of the key developments is the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (CVM) requirement to adopt international standards for sustainability reporting. Current regulations (CVM Resolutions 193 and 227, both available in Portuguese) already allow publicly traded Brazilian companies to voluntarily adopt the standards established by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), promoting greater transparency and alignment with the expectations of the international market.

“Although Brazil does not yet have a consolidated taxonomy for sustainable finance, important progress has been made. We were among the first countries to adopt the new ISSB disclosure standards, which will become mandatory in 2026 and will standardize the currently fragmented reporting formats. B3 already offers the ISE B3 Index, which lists companies committed to ESG criteria. Standardization is expected to drive higher market valuations for these companies", explains Alberto Vieira, partner in the Corporate and M&A practice at Vieira Rezende.

In this context of transformation, Brazilian companies should implement structured policies to address environmental, social, and governance issues and to prepare for future legislative and regulatory changes. “Beyond meeting formal requirements, it is essential that a company’s commitment to sustainability is genuine and transparent. Recent cases demonstrate that unfounded claims about sustainable practices – the so-called greenwashing – can expose companies to serious legal and reputational risks. Our main recommendation is that companies – even those engaging in voluntary reporting – communicate their actions responsibly, ensuring that all disclosures are supported by real data, reliable reports, and firm commitments”, notes Camila Borba Lefèvre, partner in the Corporate and M&A practice at Vieira Rezende.

Understanding the ISSB: The New Global Standard for Sustainability Reporting

• The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) is an international body established in November 2021 by the IFRS Foundation. The announcement was made during Glasgow's UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). The ISSB’s mission is to develop global standards for the disclosure of sustainability and climate-related information, creating a single, trusted framework for companies to report ESG risks and opportunities in a transparent and comparable manner.
• More than 20 countries and jurisdictions are adopting or adapting ISSB standards. They include the United Kingdom, Canada, Nigeria, Japan, and Singapore. The European Union has maintained its standards (ESRS), but efforts are underway to align the two frameworks to reduce the compliance burden for companies subject to both sets of requirements.
• In Brazil, the CVM announced in 2024 that publicly traded companies will be required to adopt ISSB standards gradually beginning in 2026. Brazil was the first country in Latin America to formally commit to adopting the standards.

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Authors:

Alberto Vieira | Partner

Camila Borba Lefèvre | Partner