{"id":1838,"date":"2020-03-16T14:38:49","date_gmt":"2020-03-16T14:38:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/msmadvogados.pt\/recognition-of-the-close-relationship-between-sustainability-and-women-is-inevitable\/"},"modified":"2021-09-16T16:19:54","modified_gmt":"2021-09-16T16:19:54","slug":"recognition-of-the-close-relationship-between-sustainability-and-women-is-inevitable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/msmadvogados.pt\/en\/recognition-of-the-close-relationship-between-sustainability-and-women-is-inevitable\/","title":{"rendered":"Recognition of the close relationship between sustainability and women is inevitable"},"content":{"rendered":"

From your perspective, what are the prospects for a more diverse, inclusive and sustainable economy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Efficiency and competitiveness have always been the leading economic goals. Environmental problems, as we know, have come to take up a position in this equation, assuming a prominent place as a topic of discussion.\u00a0 In the global context, it has become necessary to choose equally efficient and competitive environmental tools, quickly recognising the advantage of taxation as a fundamental instrument for the fulfilment of environmental goals. Therefore, based on the universally accepted “polluter pays” principle, environmental taxation encourages changes in environmental behaviour as the polluter may always opt to use cleaner energies in order to avoid this taxation. In this context, the EU’s recommendations to member states have been to adopt an environmental tax policy (Green Tax Reform). The OECD has also been emphasising the importance of environmental taxation, recommending its utilisation to achieve environmental objectives.<\/p>\n

A more inclusive and sustainable economy can, and should, include a taxation component. As an environmental tax policy introducing new environmental taxes and charges will not aim at increasing the tax burden but rather more instilling responsible behaviour among taxpayers who, in this way, avoid “green” taxation while ensuring environmental gains. It is within this perspective that environmental taxation assumes a primary and predominant role whether in the form of pollution taxation or more severe consumption taxation on those goods with greater “environmental footprints” or through reductions in prices for “green” products through adjusting the VAT rates in effect. This constitutes the positive impacts of environmental taxation, focused on social responsibility and on changing consumption and production patterns. In short, this all promotes a more sustainable upcycling economy.<\/p>\n

Currently, you are a member of “Business as Nature – Sustainable & Responsible Consumption and Circular Economy” (BasN), holding the position of Chair of the Supervisory Board. What is the mission of this association?<\/strong><\/p>\n

BasN is a non-profit association formed by a group of women with diverse experiences, motivated by a common mission: to contribute to promoting sustainable production and consumption and the circular economy, with special attention to the involvement of women as influencers and direct agents in this process of change and economic and social development.<\/p>\n

Through this association, what objectives guarantee the future of the planet and how do they change the way we consume and produce and make the whole process sustainable?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The goal involves disrupting the current development model, contributing to the transition towards a circular economy, prioritising economic prosperity based on the abundance and diversity of the planet based on individual and collective respect for the principles of social responsibility and efficient and sustainable management of natural resources and the minimisation of waste. In summary, taking on business (business<\/em>) not as usual, but rather seeking the balance of nature (as nature<\/em>).<\/p>\n

Achieving economic growth and sustainable development requires us to urgently reduce our ecological footprint. This requires changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources. How?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Through ensuring sustainable production and consumption patterns in fulfilment of one of the Sustainable Development Goals that make up the 2030 Agenda (SDG#12).<\/p>\n

In this vein, alongside awareness-raising activities to change consumption patterns and implement responsible and sustainable lifestyles and building up specifically circular business projects, we intend to promote reflection and creative debate, contributing to defining public policies capable of supporting the process of change, the production and exchange of knowledge and the acceleration of technological development.<\/p>\n

What is the role of women in the process of change?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recognition of the close relationship between sustainability and women is inevitable. Indeed, women hold priority roles in management, organisation and the family and in the social economy. Women are responsible for 85% of purchasing decisions. As such, they are influencers in their families, workplaces and the community.<\/p>\n

In line with SDG#5 (promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment), women therefore require defending as fundamental actors in changing consumption patterns with a view to catalysing a new environmental culture by increasing the consumption of sustainable products that contribute to circularity and the rational use of natural resources.<\/p>\n

in Pontos de Vista
\n16th March 2020<\/p>\n

See Article<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>