National Conference on Climate Financing and Sustainable Development: Brazilian Municipalities Driving Actions for a Resilient Future.

National Conference on Climate Financing and Sustainable Development: Brazilian Municipalities Driving Actions for a Resilient Future

Brasília, November 10, 2023 – Cities from all over Brazil participated in the workshop “Climate Budget and Project Development,” promoted by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, with the participation of the Alziras Institute and with the support of the European Union. The aim was to broaden the discussion on Municipal Climate Budget and the development of sustainable projects within the IV National Meeting of Municipalities of the Brazilian Association of Municipalities (ABM). The event presented opportunities for municipal climate financing, highlighting ways to allocate resources for a fair transition to a low-carbon economy.

The workshop was attended by 25 local authorities, including mayors, managers, secretaries, and municipal technicians, with the goal of empowering technical teams with the necessary knowledge about the key processes and actors to obtain funding for projects in the areas of climate and sustainable urban development. Additionally, strategies for achieving climate justice through municipal financial management and the development of climate financing projects were discussed.

The workshop provided a valuable space to drive concrete actions towards a more sustainable and resilient future. The event featured lectures, municipality feedback sessions, and a specific workshop on “Climate Justice and Municipal Budgets” led by Michelle Ferreti, Director of the Alziras Institute. Michelle emphasized how there are still ‘class and race inequalities in the risks of the climate crisis’ and that managers need to take these inequalities into account when planning their public budget. To illustrate a case where climate justice guided the use of local public budgets, Michelle invited Ricardo Costa, Secretary of Finance and Management of Francisco Morato (SP), to present the good practices of his city, one of the municipal leaders in sustainable urban development and climate action. The mayor of Francisco Morato, Renata Sene, is a signatory of the Global Covenant of Mayors and one of the most active mayors in Latin America in the agenda of localizing the Sustainable Development Goals.

The workshop also included training on the various financing opportunities available for Brazilian cities, conducted by Jéssica Gama, Technical Advisor of the Cities Present program. Jessica introduced a climate financing guide developed in collaboration with leading institutions in the field of financing for sustainable urban development, presenting mechanisms and processes for cities to obtain national and international resources.

Highlighting the panel on project structuring, conducted by Guillermo Piñones, from the City Climate Finance Gap Fund team of the Global Covenant of Mayors. Guillermo discussed with the participating cities what the main gaps are for the city to obtain financing for projects in the climate and energy sectors. Guided by Guillermo Piñones, the cities presented five-minute pitches each, highlighting their innovative proposals and strategies for obtaining climate financing. After each presentation, the GCoM-GAP Fund team provided feedback and asked additional questions, enriching the discussion. Subsequently, participants were divided into groups, promoting an interactive dynamic of sharing ideas and cross-feedback among cities.

The event concluded with a dynamic involving the participating cities, providing a conducive environment for the exchange of experiences and joint learning. This dynamic represented a crucial moment to strengthen municipal initiatives towards a more sustainable and resilient future, highlighting collaboration and joint learning among participating cities. The moderation was led by Guillermo Piñones and Michelle Ferreti.