The complex and intractable global challenges we face, including inequality, climate change, biodiversity loss, and social fragmentation, are deeply rooted in economic systems that prioritize short-term financial gains over long-term sustainability and wellbeing. They cannot be resolved without addressing the systems that give rise to them.
The G20 has recognized the need for a new development paradigm – Life Economies – that addresses the root causes of these interlinked crises. Life Economies prioritize long-term benefits over short-term gains, aligning economic activities with social wellbeing and environmental health. These emerging economic models are driven by principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and resilience. Brazil is global leader in advancing innovative economic approaches, including the Bioeconomy, Circular Economy, Impact Economy, Green Economy, Social Solidarity Economy, and Blue Economy, all of which seek to integrate the multiple dimensions of sustainability.
On the occasion of the 4th G20 Development Working Group (DWG) meeting in Rio de Janeiro, we invite you to join us at the iconic Museum of Tomorrow for "Innovations Toward a Life Economy: Building Tomorrow’s Economy Today". This event will discuss the G20’s role in recognizing and supporting the expansion of Life Economies and showcase local innovations propelling their growth. We will explore cutting-edge solutions and scalable practices, fostering collaboration among policymakers, community innovators, business leaders, and scholars. Together, we will identify forward-thinking actions that can be taken today to set a course toward an economy of the future that delivers prosperity and wellbeing for all people and our planet.
Programme
(Note: the event will be bi-lingual, with PT/EN translation provided.)
Registration and Coffee (13:00 - 14:00) — Participants are also welcome to arrive earlier to visit the Museum of Tomorrow ahead of the event.
Welcome and Invocation (14:00 - 14:15) — Warm welcome and invocation by dignitaries, highlighting the significance of Life Economies in addressing local and global challenges.
Speakers:
Chicão Bulhões - Secretário de Desenvolvimento Urbano e Econômico do Município do Rio de Janeiro
Douglas Ruas Santos, Secretário de Cidades do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Fábio Scarano, Curador do Museu do Amanhã - E é um especialista em Economia para a Proteção Ambiental e Resiliência - ele falará sobre a Criação do Futuro
Local Context Setting (14:15 - 14:45) — Overview of the economic, social, and environmental issues in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, emphasizing the priorities of Brazil’s G20 presidency and the role of regions in harnessing the Life Economy.
Moderator:
Paulo Protasio, Diretor Executivo da Autoridade do Desenvolvimento Sustentável do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Speakers:
Leta Vieira de Sousa - Coordenadora do Programa Rio Inclusivo e Sustentável, UN-Habitat Brazil
Mauricio Guedes - Superintendente de Inovação e Sustentabilidade, Secretaria de Estado de Desenvolvimento Econômico, Indústria, Comércio e Serviços
Marcelo Felipe Alexandre - Subsecretário de Economia do Mar, Secretaria de Estado de Energia e Economia do Mar do Rio de Janeiro
Nelson Rocha - Presidente na Câmara de Comércio do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Life Economies: Policy Innovation (14:45 - 15:45) — Experts and policymakers discuss the innovative policy approaches driving the growth of Life Economies, covering various models and their implementation, with a view toward action by the G20.
Moderator:
Aspásia Camargo - Aspásia Brasileiro Alcântara de Camargo é uma professora, acadêmica e socióloga
Panelists:
Camila Achutti - leader do tema de Mulheres em STEM e co-leader do tema de justiça climática para o W20
Ana Asti - Subsecretária de Recursos Hídricos e Sustentabilidade, Secretaria de Estado de Ambiente e Sustentabilidade do Rio de Janeiro
Heerad Sabeti - CEO, Fourth Sector Group
Rolf Schwarz - Chefe de Engajamento Global, Diretoria de Cooperação para o Desenvolvimento na Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OCDE)
Life Economies: In Practice (15:45 - 16:45) — Showcase practical examples and case studies of Life Economies in action, with local innovators and community leaders sharing their experiences and successes.
Moderator:
Tatiana Glad, Director Ejecutiva, Impact Hub Network
Speakers:
Magda Gomes, Director Ejecutiva, Instituto Guetto
Bruna Amaral, Co-fundadora e Director Ejecutiva, Toti Diversidade
Liliana Pinelli, Co-fundadora Impact Hub Rio de Janeiro
Bia Bley, CEO, Green Rio
pre-recorded video (10min)
Edgard Gouveia Jr., Empreendedor social e designer de jogos, Epic Journeys
Closing (16:45 - 17:00) — Summarize key takeaways, outline next steps, and highlight the importance of continued collaboration to advance Life Economies.
Speaker:
Abena P.A. Busia, Poeta, Escritora e Diplomata (Embaixador Extraordinário e Plenipotenciário de Gana na República Federativa do Brasil)
Beatriz Triani, Negociadora Climática Jovem, Columbia Global Centre Rio
Background: The Call for a New Development Paradigm and the Response of the G20
The Development Working Group (DWG) of the G20 was established in 2016 as a coordinating body and policy resource for advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite efforts, only 15% of the Agenda is on track, and high debt levels in middle- and lower-income countries are hindering substantial progress in expanding sustainable and climate finance at scale. Inequalities, extreme hunger, and poverty have worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic, and wealth distribution has become more imbalanced, as shown by the nearly US $1.7 trillion in global dividends distributed by the top 1,200 listed companies in 2023—more than double the amount in 2010.
Embracing the critical need for a new development paradigm, the G20 has recognized the importance of scaling Life Economies—economic systems that recouple growth with societal wellbeing and environmental health, fostering inclusive development, inter-generational equity, and ecological sustainability.
Life Economies prioritize long-term benefits over short-term profits, promoting shifts in values, mindsets, and behaviors among individuals, businesses, investors, and institutions. They encompass various innovative models, including the Bioeconomy, Blue Economy, Doughnut Economics, Green Economy, Impact Economy, Regenerative Economics, Social and Solidarity Economy, Stakeholder Capitalism, and Wellbeing Economy, among others. By aligning economic activities with the full range of Sustainable Development Goals, Life Economies offer a path to sustainable and inclusive growth that benefits all members of society.
Central to Life Economies are ‘purpose-driven’ or ‘for-benefit’ models of enterprises, such as social enterprises, sustainable businesses, cooperatives, community interest companies, and numerous others, which have, importantly, been legally recognized by all G20 members over the past two decades. Innovations like impact investing, wellbeing measurement, corporate governance reforms, circular economy, ESG, venture philanthropy, and blended finance are also driving this new paradigm.
The G20 has also endorsed the formation of the Global Alliance for Life Economies Research and Innovation (GALERI), first envisioned in 2022 during the G20 Indonesia and formally launched in 2023 under the G20 India. GALERI fosters global engagement, coordination, and collaboration among governments, think tanks, academia, international organizations, philanthropy, business, civil society, and other actors to accelerate the growth of inclusive and sustainable economies. GALERI aims to create a wide space for collaborations to effectively support policymaking in G20 countries, guide global processes in developing norms, and create global public goods, particularly in research and innovation. This includes advancing understanding and the practice of impact measurement and investing; responsible management and new forms of corporate governance; innovations in economic and development policy; and alignment of blended finance, development finance, climate finance and philanthropy with the SDGs; among others, with an emphasis on collective action and community participation.
Organized by
GALERI – The Global Alliance for Life Economies Research & Innovation (GALERI) fosters global engagement, coordination, and collaboration among governments, think tanks, academia, international organizations, philanthropy, business, civil society, and other actors to accelerate the growth of inclusive and sustainable economies. Founding partners include ADBI, AUDA/NEPAD, Development Alternatives, Fourth Sector Group, GIZ, Impact Hub Network, OECD, RIS, UNDP, and UNRISD.
For further information please contact: admin@life-economy.org.