Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Sustainable projects are held back by contracts, business leader says
Ricardo Mussa says contracts are the main obstacle to sustainable projects, rather than a shortage of funding.
Mussa leads Sustainable Business COP, a global business initiative created in Brazil for COP30, which was held in Belém last year.
The group aims to help companies put climate solutions into practice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming.
Mussa says projects involving new environmental technologies carry extra risks, but argues that businesses should still pursue them.
Carbon markets could help finance climate action, but Mussa says a lack of shared global rules for counting carbon undermines financial-market trust.
At COP31 in Turkey this November, the group plans to bring about 300 CEOs and present governments with policy recommendations for six priority sectors, including energy and agribusiness.
Ricardo Mussa says contracts, rather than a lack of funding, are now the main obstacle to sustainable and energy-transition projects.
Mussa, CEO of the Sustainable Business COP, says private-sector effort is needed to help projects move forward.
He says environmental technologies involve more risk than established business areas, while arguing that Brazil offers many sustainability opportunities.
The group plans to present governments with sustainable-policy recommendations at COP31 in Turkey in November.
Mussa also says the lack of a single global carbon-accounting system undermines confidence in carbon markets.
- Who
- Ricardo Mussa, CEO of the Sustainable Business COP.
- What
- He says contract development is the main obstacle to sustainable projects, rather than a lack of financing.
- When
- He made the assessment in an interview published on October 15, 2026.
- Where
- The interview was with Capital Insight, a partnership between Broadcast and CNN Money. The article does not state where it took place.
- Why
- Mussa says projects involving new environmental technologies carry added risks and require private-sector effort to move forward.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
COP30 was held in Belém, Pará, Brazil.
Mussa discussed obstacles to sustainable projects in an interview with Capital Insight.
The Sustainable Business COP plans to bring together about 300 CEOs of major global companies and present policy recommendations to governments.
- Sustainable Business COP
- An initiative created in Brazil for COP30 and recognised by the UN
- Reach
- About 57 million companies through business confederations in 123 countries
- COP31 gathering
- About 300 CEOs of major global companies
- Policy recommendations
- Three for each of six priority activity segments
- Carbon market obstacle
- No single global carbon-accounting system
What people are saying
Brazil is the solution country, not the problem country.
We need pragmatism. For 30 years, the COPs discussed countries’ principles and commitments on emissions and climate control. Now, we need to show and put into practice the solutions that have already been found.