“After 30 years of over-regulation, we need to take certain things as given in order to move forward with the circular economy”
José Eduardo Martins, partner at Abreu Advogados with extensive experience in environmental and energy law, took part in the “Sustentabilidade em Ação” podcast by Jornal de Negócios, part of the Negócios Sustentabilidade 2030 initiative.
The episode focused on “Environmental transition: burden or opportunity?”, and also featured Carlos Freire, CEO of AON Portugal, with moderation by Pedro Martins Barata, Vice President of the Environmental Defense Fund.
During the discussion, José Eduardo Martins highlighted the essential role of technical and legal service providers in helping companies adapt to the increasingly complex environmental regulatory framework. “I don’t see how many of these processes would be possible without specialised service providers,” he stated, stressing the growing complexity in areas such as permitting, environmental liability, and compliance.
While recognising the progress driven by European regulation, he warned of the dangers of “over-regulation” and advocated for the consolidation of existing practices rather than the constant creation of new obligations. “After 30 years of over-regulation, we need to take certain things as given in order to move forward with the circular economy and build trust.”
Another key issue discussed was the difficulty in accessing green finance. According to José Eduardo Martins, the system still fails to adequately reward sustainable investment: “Green is not yet sufficiently rewarded, and brown is not yet sufficiently penalised.”
The episode underscored the urgency of simplifying rules, integrating climate risk into companies’ strategic management, and turning regulatory compliance into a real opportunity for economic transformation.
Listen to the full episode here.
