“This is more than goal-setting - this is game-changing.” - USGBC

PART 4: Strategy, Coordination and Execution

Objectives: create the organizational bodies and promote the most important policies that can bring about measures needed to coordinate and execute the CopaVerde Plan. 

Successful implementation of these strategies will require legislation at the federal and state levels.  We believe that every effort must be put in place to facilitate investments in sustainability and Green Building as soon as possible.  Tax incentives and minimal industry standards will push companies to invest and innovate in order to create more sustainable solutions.  Protection of the country’s natural resources and the citizenry’s well being is of the highest importance and these should be viewed in such light.

1. 1)Tax incentives should be created for all companies, domestic or foreign, investing in Brazilian sustainability.  This would include tax exemptions on foreign technologies, not available in Brazil and which are prohibitively expensive to import.  The government can play a critical role in alleviating these obstacles so that the best technologies in the world today can reach the building sector, renewable energy markets and other important segments of the economy.  Investments are being made today that will last decades and high long-term operating and environmental costs must be avoided.  This is an extraordinary moment and policy must be adjusted to reflect this challenge.
   

2. 2)“Green Bonuses” applied to the financing terms of any projects funded by the BNDES (Brazilian National Development Bank) that achieve LEED Certification are necessary.  Interest rates on loans can be downwardly adjusted depending on the level of LEED certification obtained.  This is perhaps the most effective policy tool available to make “Green” sporting events a reality.  A financial incentive of this kind would ignite overnight a competition for the largest, Green Building effort so far attempted.
   

3. 3)The creation of a new Federal Sustainability Department devoted specifically to developing strategies and writing legislation to transition the Brazilian economy into a more sustainable or “Green Economy”, is needed.
   

4. 4)A single individual, a “Czar of the Games” should be assigned the power and responsibility of coordinating these all of the games Brazil will be hosting over the coming years.  To this day there is no department or individual accountable for the preparation and planning for these events and it is the main reason why Brazil is already behind schedule.  This “Czar”, should not be a politician, have a relationship with event of the event organizers, or local federations, like the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation), and he/she should not be tied to the proposed (above) Federal Sustainability Department. Independence here must be maintained. This person should be an experienced operator, with knowledge in finance, infrastructure and technology and have a clear vision of how to limit the environmental impact of the “Games.” This individual would also preside over the “Committee of the Games.”
   

5. 5)A “Committee of the Games” should be formed for to coordinate all of the country’s upcoming events. A panel of sustainability experts should be brought together from the public and private sectors to advise all who are involved in event preparations.  The team should count with a representative from each of the events local organizing committees.  This team would research and offer guidelines and support for the successful preparation and execution of all matters related to, but not limited to: air quality, transport, energy, green coverage and protected areas, water, solid waste, recycling, event sites and venues, green building certification, accessibility, climate neutrality, and coordination of international and domestic NGO support. Proposals made by this committee should be presented to the Federal Sustainability Department for fast-track policy making. Collaboration between global sporting organizations would also be a notable and important first contributing to more environmentally friendly events going forward.
   

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