ESG IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IN BRAZILIAN MUNICIPALITIES: HISTORICAL TRAJECTORY, EDUCATION, AND MODEL PROPOSAL

Abstract

This study analyzes the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria in the evaluation and management of municipal Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Brazil, considering their historical trajectory, institutional challenges, and the role of education as a structuring axis of sustainable public governance. The objective is to examine the limitations of the traditional municipal PPP model and propose a conceptual model for ESG integration adapted to the reality of Brazilian municipalities. Methodologically, the research adopts a qualitative approach, of an exploratory and descriptive nature, based on a literature and document review, with an analysis of regulatory frameworks, classic works in public administration, and studies on governance, sustainability, and education. The results indicate that municipal PPPs face weaknesses related to institutional capacity, information asymmetry, and the predominance of economic-financial criteria, which compromise their sustainability and social legitimacy. The integrated incorporation of ESG criteria appears capable of mitigating risks, strengthening governance, and increasing public value creation, especially when linked to educational processes focused on technical training and social oversight. It is concluded that the structured adoption of ESG, combined with education as a cross-cutting axis, contributes to the reconfiguration of the decision-making logic of municipal PPPs, promoting more sustainable, transparent practices aligned with the public interest in the long term.