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Brazil Social, Environmental and Climate Risk Information Reporting

Brazil Social, Environmental and Climate Risk Information Reporting: Brazil mandates periodic regulatory submission of social, environmental and climate risk information through the DRSAC

Maílis Carrilho
Written by Maílis Carrilho
Updated on February 9th, 2026

Summary

BCB Resolution 151/2021 requires regulated institutions in prudential segments S1–S4 to submit structured information on social, environmental, and climate risks to the Central Bank through a defined reporting document (DRSAC), with staggered start dates by segment. It operationalises supervisory monitoring of ESG-related prudential risks and makes reporting controls, data quality, and timely submission compliance-critical.

Details

Jurisdictions
  • Brazil
Mandatory for

Institutions authorised by BCB in S1–S4, with staggered effective dates.

Exemptions

S5 institutions are not required to remit this information under Resolution 151.

Deep dive

4 min read
Published Feb 9, 2026

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What’s Required

1) Determine segment and applicability, then implement reporting readiness
BCB Resolution 151 applies to financial institutions and other institutions authorised by BCB in segments S1–S4, with segment-based start dates. Segment S5 is not included in the submission obligation. Institutions must map their segment classification and ensure the reporting pipeline is live ahead of the first applicable database date.

2) Submit the DRSAC information set as defined by BCB instructions and layouts
The rule establishes an obligation to remit information related to social, environmental, and climate risks, connected to the broader risk management and PRSAC frameworks. In practice, submission relies on:

  • the DRSAC reporting document itself (code 2030 referenced in BCB reporting instructions)

  • technical layouts and completion instructions that specify fields, definitions, and validation logic

  • updates to instructions via BCB normative acts (for example, the BCB has issued instruments updating DRSAC layouts and instructions)

3) Establish internal governance for regulatory reporting quality
DRSAC is supervisory reporting. Institutions should treat it as a regulated return similar to other prudential submissions, requiring:

  • ownership in regulatory reporting or finance/risk reporting functions.

  • documented source systems and transformation logic.

  • controls for completeness, accuracy, reconciliation, and sign-off.

  • change management when BCB updates the layout or definitions.

Weak governance often manifests as late submissions, inconsistent series, or unexplained revisions that can trigger supervisory attention.

4) Align DRSAC content with internal risk management under CMN 4,943 and PRSAC under CMN 4,945
A critical compliance expectation is consistency across:

  • internal risk identification and measurement (CMN 4,943)

  • PRSAC principles and actions (CMN 4,945).

  • public disclosures (GRSAC under BCB 139).

  • supervisory reporting (DRSAC under BCB 151).

Supervisors can and do compare these layers. If DRSAC indicates material risks but public disclosures downplay them, or if PRSAC is generic but DRSAC reveals concentrated exposures, institutions may face follow-up and remediation demands.

5) Data classification and definitional discipline
DRSAC reporting inevitably requires classification decisions such as:

  • identifying exposures that relate to environmental or climate risk drivers.

  • mapping clients, sectors, and geographies to risk categories.

  • tracking changes over time and explaining drivers (portfolio shifts, methodology changes).

Institutions should maintain a data dictionary, a decision log for classification, and evidence for any methodology updates, because the BCB may ask for explanations for breaks in series.

Important Deadlines

  • Date of adoption: 6 October 2021.

  • Segment-based first submission start dates (by database):

    • S1: from December 2022

    • S2: from June 2023

    • S3: from December 2023

    • S4: from June 2024

  • Updates to reporting instructions/layout: BCB has issued normative instruments updating DRSAC instructions and layout, affecting documents prepared from specific database dates.

Current Status

In force and operational, with reporting cycles active across segments S1–S4 and technical maintenance through BCB instruction updates.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

As a BCB supervisory reporting obligation, enforcement typically includes:

  • Supervisory findings for late, missing, or inconsistent submissions.

  • requirements to correct and resubmit.

  • Escalation to administrative measures if failures are persistent, material, or suggest weak governance and controls.

The practical impact can include expanded supervisory scrutiny, remediation costs, and reputational risk with regulators. For regulated entities, recurring reporting failures can also be interpreted as broader weaknesses in controls and governance.

Examples of Known Violations

Typical DRSAC reporting failures include:

  • Late or missing submissions due to unclear ownership or weak reporting calendars.

  • Inconsistent methodology across reporting periods without documentation, causing unexplained shifts in reported indicators.

  • Classification errors, such as mis-mapping counterparties or exposures to risk categories, later lead to large revisions.

  • Reconciliation gaps where DRSAC indicators are not reconcilable to internal risk reports or portfolio data.

  • Layout non-compliance after BCB updates instructions, producing validation errors or rejected files.

Resources


Maílis Carrilho
Added by:
Maílis Carrilho
Sustainability Research Analyst
Maílis Carrilho is a Sustainability Research Analyst (Intern) at Net Zero Compare, contributing research and analysis on climate tech, carbon policies, and sustainable solutions. She supports the team in developing fact-based content and insights to help companies and readers navigate the evolving sustainability landscape.
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Added on Feb 9, 2026 by Maílis Carrilho ·