Brazil resumes multilateralism in Davos in a forum with many crises and few solutions

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Brazil has taken its place at the international negotiating table in Davos, where the five days of the World Economic Forum meeting, which ended this Friday (20), were dominated by dismal expectations: global recession, warnings about the climate crisis and a war that drags on with far-reaching geopolitical and economic consequences.

In general, Brazilian and foreign participants heard by the Sheet reported relief (the word was used frequently) at the willingness of the newly sworn government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) to dialogue through the multilateral system, from which the administration of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) distanced the country.

As summarized by publicist and businessman Nizan Guanaes, “Brazil [volta] with a new agenda and being the source of the solution, not the problem” in the eyes of the audience of authorities and senior executives in the Swiss Alps.

Fears of an institutional or democratic crisis in the country after the January 8 attacks in Brasília were also resolved by the government’s speech and the quick union of the Powers and governors to reject the coup, something recalled in the panel on the country at the forum.

This is good news, although it does not mean that the message on fiscal responsibility presented by Minister Fernando Haddad (Finance) at the event was enough to resolve doubts and fears, especially at a time when a large part of the large economies are facing inflation, high interest rates and consequences of expansionist policies to revive the economy after the pandemic.

In such a rocky scenario, Brazil’s “reentry” gained strength with the presence, in the tiny delegation, of Minister Marina Silva (Environment), received with reverence by the forum and by her peers, such as the American John Kerry.

“Brazil is in a favorable situation,” said Luiz Carlos Trabuco Cappi, chairman of Bradesco’s board of directors.

“We have a new diplomacy, there was an airing with the presence of Minister Haddad and Minister Marina. Minister Marina was a great anchor for this environmental diplomacy. The new government is proposing new international relations, which is giving it a leadership position. from Brazil in concert [internacional].”

“Brazil once again has an important role, protagonism and who knows leadership in an agenda that is perhaps the most important on the planet”, evaluates the presenter Luciano Huck, who until last year received questions in the forum about a possible candidacy for the presidency that did not came true.

Huck did not fail to notice the most frequent expression in this week of debates, present in the mouths of bankers, environmentalists, executives, academics and politicians: “homework”. Problems are mapped and solutions proposed. However, action is needed.

Although charges abound on all fronts, there have been no effective decisions. The forum seems to have lost steam in its first post-pandemic edition, in which, despite the record number of participants, 2,658, the number of heads of state and government dwindled, and those who came were mostly European, a limiting factor. the debate.

Latin America was underrepresented, with only three presidents (Colombian Gustavo Petro, Ecuadorian Guillermo Lasso and Costa Rican Rodrigo Chaves). And many participants did not stay in Davos for the five days of the event — a result, according to a person familiar with the organization, of increasingly shredded schedules, which summarize their presence in two or three days, as Haddad did.

There is also a chronic problem. The forum is often criticized for failing to anticipate major crises or for taking too long to act. In a teleconference speech from a war-torn Kiev, Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky asked what the next global threat would be, as three years ago Davos discussed the risks posed by Iran, and now he does so with Russia without anything, in fact, occur.

“It’s as if the discussion here were to discuss the discussion, an eternal gerund. They say they are following carbon emissions, but what are they doing in practice to reduce? , evaluates Nathalia Acuri, CEO of MePoupe!, who had participated in editions passed with Google and now has been invited by the forum.

She questions why the event’s panels, 391 in all, ignore pressing debates inserted in the very problems chosen as central —such as the reduction of consumption, related to the environmental crisis.

Participants heard by Sheetand also members of the panels on which she and Haddad spoke, showed confidence in the commitments to zero deforestation and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in line with what the Paris Agreement on Climate calls for, presented by the minister, which should help the Brazil to resume the leading role in the theme.

In addition, the scenario is tortuous.

“I saw a positive perception and optimism for the seriousness with which Brazil is dealing with the climate issue and deforestation”, described Patricia Ellen da Silva, former Secretary of Economic Development for the State of São Paulo, and now CEO of the Systemiq consultancy for Brazil.

“On the other hand, I perceive a reallocation of global investments, due to the geopolitical issue that precedes the climate.”

Bradesco’s executive director for human resources, Glaucimar Peticov, points out obstacles —including within large corporations, which have not been able, in many cases, to change their management culture to embrace the fluidity of these times. But she says she is optimistic about the possibility of seeing rapid changes in the country and on the global stage. “The reception to Minister Marina and Minister Haddad here was very good.”

Much of Davos takes place in the hallways, dinners and houses set up by governments and corporations to advance their interests. The move resulted in a busy schedule for the two ministers and three governors who were at the forum — Tarcisio de Freitas (Republicanos-SP), Helder Barbalho (MDB-PA) and Eduardo Leite (PSDB-RS).

In official events, however, the country’s presence was discreet. For 2024, the organization hopes that Lula, 20 years after his first participation, will return to the Alps.

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