Cities in the south of the state of Rio can win the first International Green Technology Consortium in the Americas

The United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP-26), held at the end of last year, exposed major problems faced by nations with regard to the environment and the serious climate crisis. The urgency to act, promoting actions and public policies, is evidenced in the discourse of nations, institutions, and organizations that debate the threat to human survival on a global scale.

According to Júlio Ferreira, former councilor of Volta Redonda between 1982 and 1989 and president of Brazil US Business Connect, who lives in Texas, it is possible to change the reality of the city, from “City of Steel” to “City of Green Technology”. “There are American investors willing to bring the most modern to Brazil, in terms of global innovations, in green technology and Zero Carbon. American universities and companies from the most diverse segments have already understood the need to invest in the environment and are willing to open up to dialogue about a new sustainable global economy. Undoubtedly, the time is now, there is international will and conditions for us to implement this Green Tech project for the city of Volta Redonda, the southern region of the state, and for the whole country”, explained Júlio Ferreira.

Among the advantages cited by the former councilor is the improvement of the city's infrastructure, enabling citizens to improve their quality of life. “There are many benefits for Volta Redonda, which is on the important Rio-S?o Paulo axis, therefore, it is a strategic municipality in the Middle Vale do Paraíba Industrial. I can mention that it will generate more qualified jobs, develop an international scientific cooperation partnership, bring Brazil closer to the United States in strategic projects for the environment, the search for sustainable and eco-friendly solutions to the serious problems of sanitation, waste solids, and preservation of the waters of the Paraíba do Sul River. I only mention a few, but there are hundreds of solutions to improve the quality of life throughout Brazil and in the south of the state of Rio de Janeiro”, explained Júlio.

For the project to come to fruition, Júlio Ferreira is in Volta Redonda to forge alliances with entities such as CSN, BNDES, CDL, Aciap, Firjan, FIESP, unions, municipal and state governments, and companies. “I came to Volta Redonda with the mission to make this Green Tech Center happen, to convince everyone as soon as possible that the project will bring political and strategic advantages to the entire state of Rio. There is a good signal from US investors to make this Green Tech Center a great reality among the three Americas and, for that, we need to organize ourselves, unite better, and bring the public power with its political will to prepare an international super project to our region.

I believe that everyone has already understood that there is a new global paradigm and there is no other way forward”, said Julio Ferreira, who added. “Brazil needs to lead the world in the transition from a dirty economy to a clean and sustainable economy. The strength of the intelligence of our universities and the investment capacity of our private sector can drive these changes if there is a minimum of political will on the part of the Guanabara Palace and Brasília. There is light at the end of the tunnel and it involves the formation of a great national Green Tech pact for a new clean, robust and modern economy”, concluded Julio Ferreira.