MARAEY, a sustainability benchmark to be developed in Maricá, has announced the creation of its MARAEY EESG 2030 Agenda, with investments in order of R$ 1 billion over the next nine years, which accounts for approximately 10% of the project’s overall investment. Despite a recent court ruling which affects progress to achieve the licence for the project, MARAEY’s executives are confident in the final decision and have confirmed that they will take all legitimate legal action to get the licence and bring MARAEY to fruition, relying on the Judicial Power to authorise the implementation of a project that represents a benchmark in terms of sustainability, with a positive impact on the population of the State of Rio de Janeiro.

Embracing the EESG 2030 agenda is one of the areas it is progressing towards, with a timeline of priority actions to address a combination of economic (E), environmental (E), social responsibility (S) and governance (G) indicators. Work is set to begin once the Installation Licence is issued for the project by the State Environmental Institute (INEA).

“IDB Brasil, the company in charge of MARAEY, and our entire team are working to resume the licence application process as soon as possible. It is our mission to deliver a unique and innovative project to Maricá that will drive progress not only in this eastern Brazilian region, but all across the State of Rio de Janeiro,” says Emilio Izquierdo, CEO of MARAEY.

The undertaking, which has already been awarded internationally recognised seals such as BIOSPHERE and Sustainable SITES Initiative GOLD precertification, has joined the United Nationals Global Compact, confirming its commitment to work towards the global sustainability agenda in line with the international initiative’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set for 2030.

Emilio Izquierdo argues that it is urgent to invest in EESG, which reinforces the MARAEY mission: “By materialising this project, we aim to champion the EESG debate in tourist-residential undertakings because we are a benchmark for environmental sustainability. MARAEY will also have a hugely positive impact on economic and social aspects, with significant investments, job creation, training and hiring local manpower, as well as legalising property and granting deeds of ownership for members of the Zacarias fishing community. And we also intend to move forward by investing in a clear agenda for governance indicators,” explains Mr Izquierdo.

He adds that, “Our mission is to lead a structured strategy to achieve the EESG transition, along with exemplary management based on analysing the social and environmental impact of our actions, which means the responsibility of taking steps to boost positive impacts and minimise negative effects, never forgetting to keep in constant communication with stakeholders: clients, employees, partners, communities, public institutions and investors.”

MARAEY EESG ACTIONS BY 2030

Efforts towards the MARAEY 2030 Agenda will firmly continue once the infrastructure work begins, with a timeline of constant actions to be comprehensively deployed in EESG areas, ever in connection with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Environment

On the environmental front, special mention goes to the creation of the second-largest Private Natural Heritage Reserve of restinga forest in the State of Rio de Janeiro, covering almost 440 hectares, along with another 249 hectares of restored native vegetation, adding up to a protected environmental area that spans 81% of MARAEY’s 845 hectares.

Another resource used to preserve wildlife is the degraded area environmental recovery programme, as well as a plan to rescue and care for endangered species in a nursery. Once the programme is implemented, it is estimated that native vegetation will be restored in over 120 hectares of restinga forest compared to the situation prior to MARAEY.

Other initiatives in the pipeline include building a system to catch and use rainwater, treating waste water from the complex using tertiary technology which transforms effluents into reusable water, and producing part of the project’s energy demands from renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass.

MARAEY will also be laying a 20 km bike lane, the longest in any private real estate development in Brazil, which will link up to Maricá’s cycling network, as well as implementing policies and subsidies to make the vehicles in the undertaking mostly hybrid or electric.

These actions are aligned with five SDGs:

SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) – treating waste water promotes the circular economy by turning it into an asset as reusable water.

SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy) – more than half of the power consumed in MARAEY’s outdoor areas will be generated by renewable sources.

SDG 13 (Climate action), fostering environmental protection and the ability to capture CO2.

SDG 14 (Life below water) – with programmes to recover the Maricá Lagoon, restore native species and rescue craft fishing.

SDG 15 (Life on land) – carrying out Basic Environmental Plans to preserve over 800 species of animals and 522 types of plants.

SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals) – setting up an academic research centre focussing on the ecosystem in collaboration with some of the country’s top universities.

Social responsibility

In social terms, some of the most significant contributions include legalising deeds of ownership for the Zacarias community, urbanising land with the same infrastructure as the rest of the undertaking, and creating support programmes to revitalise craft fishing and restore the local culture, as well as treating waste water using tertiary technology for all residents to turn effluents into reusable water.

“The Zacarias community is one of the project’s greatest values. Nearly 200 families living in the MARAEY area stand to gain from receiving official deeds of ownership for their properties. It is also our goal to foster the local culture and fishing with programmes to restore the Maricá Lagoon, recover native species, and bring back and raise awareness of the Zacarias family memory by creating the Craft Fisherman’s House,” explains Luciana Andrade, the project’s Director of Sustainability.

These actions will also have a positive impact on the quality of the Maricá Lagoon, providing fishermen with a broader and better consumption market. Furthermore, up to 0.7% of the project’s overall revenue will go to the MARAEY Institute to be invested in environmental protection, training and equality programmes.

MARAEY is also embracing its social-cultural commitment by ensuring high-quality, inclusive and equitable education, the kind that underpins values such as biodiversity and promotes learning based on principles such as respect for differences and the right to equal opportunities. As well as creating the Hospitality and Haute Cuisine University and the Maricá Training Centre, the initiative also involves educational and qualification collaborations and agreements with the local Council and other specialised institutions.

These social responsibility actions are in line with the following SDGs:

SDG 3 (Good health and well-being) – creating a hospital which will help the community and support research, as well as education and prevention campaigns.

SDG 4 (Quality education) – setting up public-private partnerships to drive professional qualification.

SDG 5 (Gender equality) – creating professional opportunities and development based on equality.

SDG 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) – implementing initiatives for a balanced use of natural resources, new technology in construction processes, energy efficiency and renewables (smart city and eco-mobility).

They are also aligned with publicly-driven SDGs:

SDG 1 (No poverty) – through the action plan to ensure that all people have the same rights to economic resources and access to fundamental services.

SDG 2 (Zero hunger and sustainable agriculture) – launching social action campaigns conducted by the MARAEY Institute and corporate volunteering to collect food and share it out among vulnerable groups.

SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities) – in an area developed sustainably, efficiently, accessibly, inclusively and with balance.

Governance

The governance agenda – which rests on the basic principles of corporate social responsibility, transparency, integrity, legal compliance and respect for human rights – starts with initiatives such as redefining the MARAEY Board, including specific policies to combat gender inequality, and hiring independent advisers who are separate from the organisation’s management. Setting up the MARAEY Institute will involve launching social action programmes with collaborating companies, subcontractors and providers.

These initial actions are aligned with four SDGs:

SDG 5 (Gender equality) y SDG 10 (Reduced inequalities).

SDG 16 (Peace, justice and strong institutions) – thanks to policies for the prevention of corruption, fraud and bribery and internal control policies.

SDG 17 (Partnerships for the goals) – collaborating with public and private organisations to drive sustainable development.

Economy

In economic terms, MARAEY believes in responsible tourism and in inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The private investment forecast to develop the project is in order of R$ 11 billion, expecting R$ 7.2 billion to be collected in tax over the first 14 years (construction and consolidation of sales), followed by over R$ 1 billion per year once fully up and running. The economy of the State of Rio de Janeiro is predicted to warm up as 36 thousand jobs are created once MARAEY is in full operation.

These steps towards economic progress are aligned with:

SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth) – ensuring a safe and healthy working environment and protecting labour rights.

SDG 9 (Industry, innovation and infrastructure) – with the project supporting new technologies and research within an ecosystem of leading companies in their fields of work.

SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production) – focussing on responsible tourism, sustainable consumption and waste management, as well as promoting local produce.

EESG ETCHED INTO THE MARAEY DNA

MARAEY’s Executive Manager, David Galipienzo, highlights the organisation’s current values to underline its future EESG commitments.

“MARAEY was born with sustainability in its DNA. Our work has begun and will continue to take shape with the MARAEY EESG 2030 Agenda, a long-term structural commitment that will take our environmental, socio-economic and governance indicators to the next level and set an example for the market,” states Mr Galipienzo.