ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Conceived by four civil society organizations, the OCAA (Amazon Observatory on Trade and Environment) is a platform that gathers qualified information on the relations between international trade and the environment in the Amazon, stimulating science based dialogue and the engagement of various players in society.
We offer a collection of selected publications, analyses and news, as well as the opportunity to follow and participate in expert debates, in order to contribute to socio-economic and environmental prosperity.
Context
Context
The Amazon, the world’s largest reservoir of biological carbon, is in the spotlight when discussing global trade and trade agreements involving Brazil. Concern for the environment and its preservation has gained more and more relevance in these discussions especially, but not only, in developed countries. This is due, in part, to the worldwide perception that the destruction of the largest rainforest on the planet would bring serious implications, not only for Brazil, but for the global climate balance.
In this context, foreign investors and buyers expressed concern about the advance of deforestation in the Amazon, suggesting that this trend may not only harm trade and trade agreements in which Brazil is involved, but also result in capital flight.
Distrust and pressure on the country may remain, if the scenario of socio-environmental degradation keeps the current pace. In such situations, preferential trade agreements and barriers to Brazilian exports are some of the instruments of constraint that the international community is able to impose. In this respect, OCAA was created to deepen the debate on trade and environment issues.
Objectives
Objectives
Promote the exchange of qualified information on trade and the environment of the Amazon;
Serve as a repository of qualified information, such as laws, regulations and statistical data on Brazil and the Amazon, that can guide decision-making by producers, consumers and investors;
Promote multi sectoral engagement through debates;
Improve the understanding of the interplay between international trade and environmental issues and contribute to the development of an international trade that takes into account a world in climate and sanitary change, promoting fair relations between Brazil and its commercial partners;
Promote the dialogue on agreements that take into account environmental protection of the Amazon, regional economic prosperity and social justice for its inhabitants.
Principles
Principles
The activities promoted by the OCAA are based on its Declaration Of Principles:
Sustainable Development
The Observatory will act in accordance with the Brundtland report, under the precept that we must meet the current needs of society without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs;
Prevention
The work of the Observatory will always take into account the means to avoid socio-environmental damage from exploitation of natural resources, production and trading of goods and services, seeking to safeguard the environment, human and animal health and human rights;
Social Participation
The actions and positions of the Observatory will privilege participatory cooperation between the State, the private sector and civil society, promoting debate, construction and implementation of trade policies that are compatible with socio-environmental needs;
International Cooperation
Taking into account the international dimension of trade and environment issues, especially considering the current climate crisis that demands joint solutions at a global level, the Observatory will act under the principle that collaboration between countries should prevail in the treatment of issues of protection of human rights and the environment, safeguarding the sovereignty and interests of each state;
Impartiality and Independence
The Observatory will follow the criteria of equity regarding the opportunity to express diverse views, and its positions will be carried out objectively and following exclusively technical and scientific precepts, as well as independent of ideologies or partisan political ties.
Vision and Values
Vision and Values
Our vision: to promote a qualified dialogue that contributes to the development of an international trade standard that respects and promotes the conservation of the environmental integrity of the Amazon and the protection of the rights of its inhabitants, thereby achieving socio-economic and environmental prosperity in the region.
The dialogues we promote are based on three values: (1) scientific basis; (2) transparency, (3) tolerance to differences of opinion and the diversity of ideological, religious or political-party views.
Governance
Founding members
Governance
Founding members
These are the institutions that, collaboratively, have been carrying out activities and projects that seek to promote the debate, in order to contribute to a better understanding of environmental issues, trade and trade agreements, focusing on their implications and impacts on the Amazon.
Executive Secretariat
Executive Secretariat
The Executive Secretariat of the OCAA, initially, will be administered by IPAM.
The Secretariat will be in charge of: (1) the elaboration of proposals for the governance structure for the Observatory and minimum rules for the participation of its members; (2) the administration and logistical support to the proposed activities.