Establishment of Amazonian Cities Forum to Deliberate Sustainable Development Solutions
August 8, Belém, Brazil — On August 3 and 4, mayors from Amazonian cities achieved a milestone by convening the inaugural Amazonian Cities Forum in Belém do Pará, Brazil, a member city of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in the Americas (GCoM), a project funded by the European Union.
The event, held before the Amazon Summit starting on August 8, aimed to discuss the role of cities in advancing sustainable development in the region. It also emphasized the significance of green financing for projects addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation, ensuring the sustainability of local communities.
The Forum concluded with a letter of intent signed by participating mayors, to be presented to the Presidents of the member countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). The letter proposes the establishment of a permanent institutional space for mobilizing and coordinating local authorities from ACTO member countries.
“The creation of a permanent Forum within the structure of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) is the main proposal of the document, allowing mayors from the Brazilian and international Amazon to freely discuss and debate sustainable policies,” declared Edmilson Rodrigues, Mayor of Belém/PA, the host city of the event.
In the face of the urgent global environmental reality and the complex challenges confronting Amazonian cities, the Forum aims not only to provide a space for cooperation and the exchange of best practices but also to offer a collective approach to the social and environmental issues affecting populations, cities, and territories in the region. The event also aimed to empower female leaders in Amazonian sustainable development.
Hélinah Cardoso, Director of GCoM, emphasized the importance of understanding local realities for the effectiveness of municipal climate actions:
“Today, the agenda must traverse city hall and be discussed in planning, transportation, health, and education policies. So, the first invitation is for cities to look at each other and understand how we integrate the climate agenda with all the others,” reflected Cardoso.
The Amazonian Cities Forum was organized by the Municipality of Belém/PA, in coordination with the Government of the State of Pará, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Ministry of Cities, the Secretariat of Institutional Relations, the Brazilian Association of Municipalities (ABM), the Federation of Associations of Municipalities of Pará (FAMEP), the National Mayors Front, GiZ – Brazil-Germany Cooperation for Sustainable Development, and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, with financial and technical support from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Through regular meetings, workshops, and shared resources, the Forum seeks to foster collective actions toward sustainable and resilient cities, aligned with the global agenda but guided by local and national governments. The Alziras Institute, also the national coordinator of GCoM in Brazil, honored the event through its Director Tauá Pires.
GCoM to Support Amazonian Cities
On August 4, the Global Covenant of Mayors participated in the panel “Initiatives for the Development and Promotion of Future Actions of the Amazonian Cities Forum,” alongside representatives from two national coordinating institutions of the GCoM in Brazil: the Brazilian Association of Municipalities (ABM) and ICLEI South America.
The session was moderated by Mayor Fernanda Hassem, director of ABM, from Brasiléia/AC, a GCoM signatory city. During the event, some of the actions of the Global Covenant of Mayors regarding pan-Amazonian cities were highlighted:
- Support for Amazonian cities in developing Greenhouse Gas Inventories, providing essential tools to understand greenhouse gas emissions and plan mitigation actions.
- Technical guidance in the development of Climate Action Plans, assisting cities in formulating concrete strategies to address local climate challenges.
- Training sessions for cities, addressing their specific needs.
New Cities Join the Largest Global Mayor Alliance for Climate Action
During the event, the cities of Cobija (Bolivia), Milán (Colombia), and Benevides (Brazil) solidified their commitment to the climate fight.
These cities officially signed the letter of adherence to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy during the meeting, joining the largest global alliance of local governments proactively engaged in combating climate change.
Global Covenant of Mayors – Latin America
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy is the world’s largest alliance of cities and municipalities leading the charge against climate change, supported by municipal networks and other key players in subnational climate action. It has over 12,700 committed cities in more than 140 countries around the world, representing over 11% of the global population.
In Latin America, the GCoM is funded by the European Union’s Partnership Instrument, with more than 650 cities from 17 countries actively participating.
For more information:
Press and Communication
Alexandra Cortés, Communication [email protected]
Technical Aspects
Belén Jiménez, Technical Advisor [email protected]
