Marcos Lima, a sustainability coordinator at Banco BV has been named a Rising Star under 30 for the Americas at Environmental Finance's Sustainable Company Awards 2024.

Judges were impressed by Lima's active role in developing banking initiatives, including the creation of a new ESG consulting service at Banco BV. The judges stated his influence of these initiatives can have a concrete impact supporting and spreading sustainable practices in the Brazilian economy.

Launched in April 2023, the consulting service provides support to Banco BV's clients on ESG projects and emissions, in terms of structuring and implementing financial solutions, advisory across green, social, and sustainable bonds, and loan structuring and investments targeting the ecological transition and social development.

"National companies wanted to access sustainable finance, however, they didn't have the necessary structure when it came to governance, environmental or social issues. We identified a gap in the Brazilian market, between the corporate companies and small companies that needed help," Lima told Environmental Finance.

"Now, we are able to identify other engagement opportunities including decarbonisation analysis, compensation of figures that are not transacted and social elements."

Over the course of just three months, Lima approved and implemented ESG labelling across the entirety of Banco BV's products, as he provided consulting and product labelling following standards and principles from numerous organisations and bodies.

"All of that background work has turned into impact today. We can measure how many families were impacted through sanitation, renewable energy, and education. That has made me the proudest over the past 12 months, because we have been able to build incredible things," Lima stated.

"I'm sure that for me, as a young person, but also for the market, is going to analyse transition finances within sustainable finance – because we see a lot of opportunities both in generating business with the role of banks but delivering better conditions for people to thrive and not only survive."

Lima joined Banco BV from Banco Bradesco in late 2023, working in its sustainable business division. During his tenure, Banco Bradesco provided a credit line totalling R$490 million ($86.7 million) to Eve Urban Air Mobility, supporting its decarbonisation efforts and alignment with the Green Loan Principles.

Adding to the list of Lima's sustainability efforts – he was responsible for building out the sustainable finance framework and overseeing the sustainable public offering structuring for Brazil's first sustainable guarantee.

The credit line was approved by Brazil's National Bank for Economic and Social Development through the bank's Innovation Finance programme, providing long-term finance for disruptive industrial projects with social benefits, and the Climate Fund.

Reacting to winning the award, Lima told Environmental Finance: "There is hope and I'm sure Brazil will be the centre of a lot of positive changes. I hope that my winning this award showcases that Brazil is ready to act. Thank you for giving me this award, but I want people to look to Brazil as a potential generator of new businesses and new opportunities, linked to ESG."