Gestão pública municipal e a prática ESG: possibilidades e limitações para o desenvolvimento sustentável

Abstract

Public administration plays a central role in achieving the goals established for Brazil in the Sustainable Development Goals. Thus, the current debate around environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices is in line with the purpose of public administration, which is to look after the interests of society and implement the public budget based on the goals and targets of sustainable development. The objective of this study was to analyze how sustainable municipal public management is characterized, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, from the ESG perspective. It is justified due to its relevance and adherence to the theme of the Postgraduate Program in Development and Public Policies, as well as to other stricto sensu postgraduate programs, contributing to the construction of knowledge and being a participatory and transformative agent in the vision of a more just and egalitarian society. The study was carried out in the context of the municipalities that make up the Association of Municipalities of the Northwest Border, in Rio Grande do Sul, and is characterized as qualitative research developed using the multiple case study strategy. The results obtained demonstrate that the integration of ESG criteria into public management is not just a trend, but a necessity to face contemporary challenges in a sustainable and responsible manner. By adopting practices that include environmental sustainability, social inclusion and ethical governance, municipal public management contributes to the promotion of sustainable development and the construction of a more dignified and accessible society for all, ensuring a positive legacy for future generations. From an ESG perspective, municipal public management must look after the interests of society and, from an economic point of view, manage the public budget in the best possible way, although the public sector does not work based on economic value with a view to profit. Thus, municipal public management has its own purpose, and can take advantage of the opportunities and challenges presented by the SDG to develop a culture in citizens based on sustainable development.