Brazilian climate trasition guide: practical lessons for businesses and governments

August 31, 2026 / Melina Amoni

Launched in March 2026, the Plano Clima is one of the Brazilian government’s key operational tools for guiding the country’s transition toward a low-carbon economy. In addition, it establishes guidelines to help governments and the private sector adapt to the impacts of climate change.

WayCarbon was part of the group of consulting firms responsible for providing technical support to the plan, working on two fronts:

Structuring the Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Industry and Mining, contributing to the identification of risks and the definition of indicators and adaptation actions;
Developing Cross-Cutting Strategies for Climate Action in Education, Training, Research, Development, and Innovation, as well as Means of Implementation.

In these areas, we conducted assessments, interviews, and the systematization of the plan’s sectoral actions. This article shares the key lessons learned throughout this process and highlights how companies, municipalities, and states can transform the Plano’s guidelines into practical opportunities for action.

Guidelines for the Public Sector

Plano Clima serves as a roadmap for states and municipalities that do not yet have a Climate Action Plan. It offers a starting point by mapping risks, suggesting actions, and outlining governance structures, responsibilities, and access to information. It also strengthens cross-sectoral integration and guides an agenda rooted in principles such as sustainable development and climate justice.

It is worth noting that the initiative will also involve a robust strategy for monitoring indicators, an essential element for the success of any climate action.

Why does this matter for the private sector?

Although this is a public initiative, the development of the plan involved strong collaboration with the private sector. Through industry associations and contributions to strategic frameworks — such as public consultations — companies actively participated in the process.

As the backbone of the national climate agenda, the Plano directs actions toward various sectors — such as transportation and agriculture — to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in alignment with Brazil’s NDC, while also consolidating adaptation initiatives for the country.

The document also contextualizes the main climate risks to which each sector is exposed and provides insight into the challenges and targets of sectors related to the value chain. This allows, for example, energy- or water-intensive companies to better understand how these sectors are preparing for future climate change scenarios and to adjust their own strategies accordingly.

Furthermore, many actions will take place at the local level, making private-sector engagement essential for both the implementation and financing of solutions. It is worth emphasizing that companies are present on the ground and can work in an integrated manner with the public sector, generating scale and accelerating results.

Challenges and lessons learned

One of the work’s key strengths was interministerial coordination, which involved 25 ministries such as: Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, among others. While, on the one hand, the diversity of perspectives was essential to the Plano’s robustness, on the other, it required a significant coordination effort. In this context, the training phases were crucial. Through workshops, it was possible to ensure conceptual alignment among participants, deepen strategic discussions, and chart joint paths forward.

However, all this effort would risk becoming an isolated document without proper alignment with the actions currently underway in the country. Therefore, integration with existing policies was an essential pillar, leveraging structures that are already in place to underpin the strategy.

Next steps

Following the publication of the Plano Clima, WayCarbon’s recommendation for the private sector is to familiarize itself with the guidelines for its respective industry. From there, the challenge lies in creating transition plans that incorporate mitigation and adaptation measures.

At the same time, to scale up the impact of climate action, it is important to join forces with industry associations and seek closer collaboration with the public sector. More than just a compliance agenda, implementing the Plano Clima represents a real opportunity for companies to generate value and gain a competitive edge.