On April 25, 2024, Brasília hosted the event “Urban Amazon in Focus – Connections for Sustainable Development,” a space promoted by the Coalition for Sustainable Urban Development in the Amazon, which is led by the National Front of Mayors (FNP, in Portuguese), GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, and WRI Brazil, in partnership with the Ministry of Cities (MCID) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) of Brazil.
Exchanging experiences and forging closer ties for climate action in the Amazon
The event brought together various key stakeholders to strengthen the Amazonian agenda for sustainable urban development and provided a platform for exchanging experiences and institutional strengthening, aiming to foster closer ties between Amazonian municipalities, the Brazilian Federal Government, potential funders, and institutions operating in the region. The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) also participated in the discussion on sustainable urban development and the promotion of solutions to the challenges of the climate agenda in the Amazon, such as climate finance. The GCoM’s role in articulating strategies and opportunities for strengthening the climate agenda at the municipal level was highlighted by the alliance’s representative at the event, Rebecca Borges.
Amazonian cities present their territorial planning projects
The cities of Belém/PA, Brasiléia/AC, Itapecuru Mirim/MA, Palmas/TO, and Porto Velho/RO presented projects of urban planning instruments developed during the Mentoring in Territorial Planning for Amazonian Cities by ANDUS (a technical cooperation project of MCID and MMA in partnership with the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany (BMWK) and implemented by GIZ as part of the International Climate Initiative – IKI). Furthermore, crucial issues related to implementing and financing these planning instruments were discussed.
Standing out as a space for exchange and learning, the event allowed municipalities to share the results achieved during the mentoring in urban planning instruments. The importance of addressing the effects of climate change was emphasized throughout the discussions, especially in the context of adapting to extreme weather events, such as floods. The convergence of different actors and perspectives wove a strong network of cooperation, capable of driving innovative and sustainable climate solutions in the Amazon.
