SDG and ESG: Scientific Productions and Journalistic stories in Brazil

Abstract

Global problems, such as the worsening of social inequalities, deforestation and global warming are themes that have attracted the attention of scientific production and the media in the last five years. Two guidelines are currently being discussed and are relevant in terms of mitigating environmental degradation and equitably valuing individuals: the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. Small, medium and large Brazilian companies began to align themselves with the initiatives of these concepts, valuing environmental, social and corporate governance sustainability actions in fulfilling the 17 SDGs and their 169 goals. In this way, the theme must be brought to the current agenda when it comes to sustainability in the business environment. This research is of a qualitative, bibliographical and documental nature and analyzes scientific research and journalistic articles on the application of the SDGs and ESG practices, and is based on two methodological strategies: surveying the panorama of research on the subject of the study and the analysis documental news articles. Within the scope of research, this article focused on identifying Brazilian research on the subject that has been published in databases. With regard to the documental analysis, these are the journalistic articles published on the G1 portal and in the Small Companies and Big Business Magazine between the years 2019 and 2023. The adherence of companies to the guidelines that are part of the UN Global Compact revealed an economic scenario in which investors invested more in sustainable companies. This article presents issues such as hiring the GLBTQ+ public, blacks, indigenous peoples, creating startups to save electricity, adoption and care in forests. These are the actions that companies aligned with the SDGs and ESG practice. Female equality with men in leadership positions in private companies is one of these 169 goals to be achieved within the UN's 2030 Agenda. Thus, both the consumer public, especially the younger ones, and the producers are valuing business with companies that are within these purposes. For this, billions of reais are available in the hands of investors who sponsor ESG and ODS causes. In addition, these companies may have incentives and lower interest rates at development banks.