how corporations rule part 3: vale – leading the corporate lobby for easier offsetting and other false ‘green’ solutions

The document examines Vale's dual strategy of expanding global coal and mining operations while lobbying for lenient carbon offsetting regulations and implementing 'green' projects that the authors claim exacerbate the climate crisis. It highlights specific negative impacts in Mozambique and Brazil, and describes how Vale influences national and international climate policy to benefit its business interests.

• Vale employs a 'two-handed climate strategy' that allows the company to profit from carbon offsetting initiatives while simultaneously increasing its carbon footprint through the expansion of extractive businesses, particularly coal in Africa.
• The company's commitment to carbon reduction does not include phasing out coal; instead, it asserts that fossil fuels will remain essential for energy security.
• In Mozambique, Vale's Moatize coal project has led to the forced relocation of approximately 1,300 families and reports of poor quality resettlement housing and harassment of community members.
• The Companhia Siderurgica do Atlantico (TKCSA) steel complex in Brazil increased Rio de Janeiro's CO2 emissions by 76% and negatively impacted 8,000 fishing workers, yet it was approved by the CDM Board to provide carbon credits.
• Vale has lobbied the Brazilian government to weaken Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) standards, specifically requesting the removal of financial and regulatory additionality requirements.
• The company uses the Vale Fund to influence civil society and government agencies, such as the Brazilian Forest Institute, to shape the 'green economy' transition in ways that favor corporate interests.

APA

Valdomir, S., Elosegui, J., Ortiz, L., & Ribeiro, D. (2012). how corporations rule part 3: vale – leading the corporate lobby for easier offsetting and other false ‘green’ solutions. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vale-Case-for-web-English.pdf

Chicago

Valdomir, Sebastián, José Elosegui, Lúcia Ortiz, and Daniel Ribeiro. how corporations rule part 3: vale – leading the corporate lobby for easier offsetting and other false ‘green’ solutions. Friends of the Earth International, 2012. https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vale-Case-for-web-English.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Valdomir |first1=Sebastián |last2=Elosegui |first2=José |last3=Ortiz |first3=Lúcia |last4=Ribeiro |first4=Daniel |title=how corporations rule part 3: vale – leading the corporate lobby for easier offsetting and other false ‘green’ solutions |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=January 2012 |url=https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vale-Case-for-web-English.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{valdomir2012how, author = {Valdomir, Sebastián and Elosegui, José and Ortiz, Lúcia and Ribeiro, Daniel}, title = {{how corporations rule part 3: vale – leading the corporate lobby for easier offsetting and other false ‘green’ solutions}}, institution = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2012}, month = jan, url = {https://www.foei.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Vale-Case-for-web-English.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }