Eleven cities in Brazil‘s Amazon region are stepping up their climate efforts through the Brazil Mutirão Program, a partnership involving local and national governments and international networks.
The program, a joint initiative between C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), combines planning, strengthened public-sector management and the development of concrete climate solutions.
‘From planning to concrete action’
“The result is an approach that moves from planning to concrete action: understanding each city’s challenges, defining priorities and creating the conditions for solutions to be developed and implemented according to the reality of each Amazonian territory,” commented Hélinah Cardoso, engagement lead for the C40 x GCoM Mutirão Programme.
“This work is being developed collaboratively: partners such as the National Front of Mayors and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability are helping make the process faster and more effective.”
Forming part of a ‘legacy of cooperation’ built around COP30, the programme seeks to bring together national and local governments, along with regional experts, to turn climate commitments into tangible actions.
As an example, the cities of Ananindeua and Benevides are working on organic waste management initiatives aimed at reducing methane emissions, while Belém and Porto Velho are developing sustainable urban mobility projects. Elsewhere, Rio Branco is combining climate planning with measures to strengthen waste management.
Other cities involved in the initiative include Altamira, Barcarena, Boa Vista, Cáceres and Parintins.
Climate agenda
“The Amazon is at the heart of the global climate agenda, but its transformation also depends on cities’ ability to plan and act,” added Belén Jiménez, senior engagement manager at GCoM. “It is at the municipal level that decisions about infrastructure, public services and development take shape and directly affect people’s lives.”
The programme is being implemented in coordination with Brazilian government bodies including the Ministry of Cities, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the COP30 Presidency and the Council of the Federation.
It is supported by the City Climate Compass, an AI-powered platform developed by C40 Cities and GCoM, which combines climate and emissions data with risk assessments to enable municipalities to identify and prioritise actions. Some 50 Brazilian municipalities are already using the platform. Read more here.
