Carlos João
Narciso Rocha Parreira

Driving Global Solutions for Climate and Equity

Discussing the real-world challenges and positive social impacts of sustainability efforts. Sustainable Brands Panel L.E./Conference

Driven by a deep commitment to sustainable practice, my 15-year journey through business, technology, and policy has been underpinned by efforts to drive systemic change and champion regenerative development.

My wide-ranging experience has so far included launching a sustainable business, Lusitano Studio, managing digital strategy and development for global luxury brands, and contributing to thought leadership on economic models for sustainable futures.

With Lusitano Studio, success involved creating a strong sustainable brand as a profitable platform for community studios and solo artisans in rural Portugal, combining my contemporary aesthetic with their sustainable, artisanal craftsmanship. From a strategic perspective, this included forging international client relationships and leading communications to generate press features in publications such as Monocle Magazine, Architectural Digest and Harper’s Bazaar, bringing deserved attention to an undervalued community.

Most recently, working with the United Nations Geneva’s SDG Lab on its efforts towards intergenerational equity and regenerative development further deepened my understanding and commitment to global sustainability challenges.

Merging a family history of entrepreneurship with a dedication to creating lasting impact, I am passionate about addressing the most pressing sustainability challenges of our time, including climate change and the pursuit of sustainable, equitable development.

Curriculum Vitae >

Select Written Work

by Julia Tscherrig and Carlos João Parreira
for SDG Lab at United Nations

We need a transformation in how we define and measure economic value, and how we design economic systems to respect environmental boundaries of our planet and promote human well-being and prosperity within those limits. This piece is a collaboration with the SDG Lab at United Nations Geneva, as part of its focus on exploring new lenses to sustainability, systems change and regenerative development.

Adapting Ancient Practices to New Climate Challenges : Winemaking and Climate Change

With human actions affecting global climate and weather patterns becoming more extreme, the risk of a lost or unacceptable crop has exponentially increased. As an industry of economic and cultural importance, governments are motivated to help it adapt and thrive in these new conditions. The question is: how?

The potential of Bioenergy with Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage (BECCS)

Nearly 200 nations have signed onto the Paris Agreement, the blueprint presented by the UNFCCC as a pivotal response to the anthropogenic climate impact, ideally limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report of 2022 does not find a credible pathway for this to be accomplished with current policies and calls for climate interventions such as BECCS. What is the feasibility of this approach?

An equitable energy transition :
A Look at Policy Efforts and Challenges for Inclusive Transitions

As the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on our climate worsens, the need to pivot towards low-carbon energy sources becomes ever more paramount. Despite this mounting pressure, energy policy efforts during this transition will need to consider and safeguard vulnerable communities, often disregarded or outmaneuvered by commercial entities, political forces, and other interests.

Sustainable Development Presentation

What if the solution to global challenges lies within the communities most affected?

Discover the power of local innovation in driving sustainable change. Join me as I delve into the transformative concept of Autonomous Sustainable Development. In this presentation, we explore groundbreaking grassroots initiatives like ColdHubs in Nigeria, RecyGlo in Myanmar, and Ayzh in India, all of which are creating sustainable solutions to local challenges. Additionally, we will discuss some practical policy recommendations to support and scale these innovative efforts.

Business Venture: Lusitano Studio

Maker Margarida Fernandes photographed by Magnetica Magazine — Maker Margarida Fernandes photographed for Magnetica Magazine

Goods for the home, crafted in Portugal.

Launching Lusitano Studio, my mission was to create a sustainable home-decor brand crafted by community studios and solo artisans in my native Portugal.

A collection of pottery, glass, textiles and photography, it drew from our heritage of craftsmanship with a modern perspective, each piece requiring hours of attention and backed by decades of expertise. These practices and traditions, intrinsically sustainable, have been part of our families for generations, and can have a place in our contemporary world.

Learn more