On November 14, 2024, the G20 Social in Rio de Janeiro hosted a landmark discussion on advancing a regenerative bioeconomy, centering on the bioregion of Recôncavo da Guanabara. The event highlighted the Theory of Change and key recommendations from the report, the result of 8th Dialogues conducted between January and October 2024. These dialogues brought together over 700 stakeholders—including leading experts, policymakers, community leaders, and climate justice advocates—to explore the transformative potential of the bioregional model in addressing critical global challenges such as ecosystem degradation, climate adaptation, and socio-economic equity. Among the supporters of the Dialogues were Sinal do Vale, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, Viva Agua Movement, Boticario Group Foundation, Euroclima- Giz, INEA, Beyonders Collective, ESADE Business School and Fattoria la Vialla.
The event, which precedes the G20 Summit next week, served as the official launch of the report Recôncavo da Guanabara: A Journey Towards a Regenerative Bioeconomy,which provides a comprehensive framework for bioregional development. This model emphasizes the integration of nature-based solutions, cultural heritage preservation, and community participation to drive ecological and social regeneration. With over 60 attendees, including academics, decision-makers, and civil society representatives, the discussions were both insightful and action-oriented.
In presenting the report, distinguished speakers highlighted key strategies and opportunities for fostering a regenerative bioeconomy. Thais Corral, founder of Sinal do Vale and co-chair of the Advisory Board of the UN Decade on Ecosystems Restoration emphasized the importance of localized practices that are scalable to global contexts. Thiago Valente of Fundação Grupo Boticário and Viva Agua Movement highlighted the synergy between biodiversity conservation and economic development through nature-based solutions and regenerative business models. Marie Ikemoto, of SEAS ( State Secretary of Environment and Sustainability) shared insights on integrating climate resilience into policy frameworks. At the same time, Holger Kuhle, coordinator of T-20 for GIZ advocated for enhanced international cooperation based on the model of biohubs and bioregions as the scale where different stakeholders can meet and align their strategies.
Central to the discussions was the *Theory of Change* proposed in the report, which positions Biohubs—catalyzer and innovation place-based centers for sustainability and regeneration—as critical tools for building local capacity and driving systemic transformation. We propose that the scale of this transformation is the Bioregional level since all stakeholders are inherently bound by local geography, climate ecosystems, and social and cultural values, which facilitates and accelerates decision-making. This then in itself opens the possibility of creating a regenerative Bioeconomy that integrates nature-based business models while addressing community needs and being nature-positive. The panel explored challenges such as financing and governance gaps, as well as the opportunities inherent in harnessing the ecological and cultural wealth of the region.
The event concluded with actionable recommendations for the G20. Among them was adopting bioregional models worldwide, using the Recôncavo da Guanabara as a blueprint for decentralized, community-driven regeneration. Panelists called for robust policy frameworks to incentivize regenerative business models, create sustainable financing mechanisms, and align national policies with global sustainability goals with a strong social component. They also emphasized the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration, resource mobilization, and the activation of Biohubs as catalysts of innovation and community engagement at the bioregional scale.
The launch of the report not only marked a milestone in advancing the regenerative bioeconomy and laid the groundwork for a broader global movement. Participants pledged to amplify the bioregional approach across G20 nations, fostering inclusive and resilient economic development. As a follow-up, it was recommended that G20 nations initiate pilot projects to replicate and adapt this model in diverse contexts giving special focus in integrating it in the road map of next G20 Presidency that will be in South Africa, starting December 1st , 2024.
The discussions at the G20 Social underscored the urgency of transitioning to regenerative economic models that restore ecosystems and build community resilience. The Recôncavo da Guanabara bioregion emerged as a compelling example of how local action, when aligned with global vision, can drive meaningful change. The G20 now has an opportunity to champion this approach, setting a transformative precedent for addressing the world’s environmental and social pressing needs.
See the full publication here.
*This article is originally by Sinal do Vale