Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting adaptation to climate change, increasing access to climate finance for developing countries, fostering renewable energy technologies and low-carbon solutions, protecting forests and biodiversity, ensuring climate justice, and strengthening cooperation across all sectors of society are some of the challenges in tackling global warming and its impacts. Annually, these themes gain prominence at the Conferences of the Parties (COPs), the main global platform for discussing necessary actions in the face of the climate emergency.

Carried out annually by United Nations (UN) and the main decision-making body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), The COP is the most important global forum on climate change and is essential for sustainable development, the establishment and monitoring of climate goals, and the promotion of the transition to a low-carbon economy. The next edition will take place on Brazilian territory, in the city of Belém (PA), and the expectation is to bring more visibility to the country's climate reality. “COP 30, hosted in Brazil, will offer various opportunities throughout the year for cities to accelerate the implementation of their climate agendas, through access to training, multi-sector partnerships, and green finance, for example,” highlights Rodrigo Perpétuo, Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America. 

ICLEI meetings seek to intensify dialogue in favour of climate action

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability will bring together municipal and state public managers, representatives from the Federal Government, international organisations, third-sector entities, academics and researchers, from June to September this year, encouraging the sharing of solutions for urban sustainability and climate action in Brazil. With travelling editions that will cover all regions of the country, the Meetings will focus on preparing cities for COP 30. Cities such as Campinas (SP), Campo Grande (MS), Macapá (AP) and the interior of Pernambuco, in the municipality of Madre de Deus, are preparing to host members of the largest network of cities operating globally. 

The programme will include thematic sessions on the intersection between Climate Adaptation and Biodiversity agendas, Climate Finance, Climate Justice and Equity, Energy Transition, Low-Carbon Initiatives, as well as technical visits to projects that exemplify best practices, thus expanding participants“ knowledge. ”ICLEI is one of the main international organisations working with governments to promote the Urban Sustainability agenda. For this year we have prepared a series of activities and dialogues, encouraging integrated collaborative actions, with the aim of equipping local governments to transform environmental agreements into concrete actions in their territories," complements Rodrigo Perpétuo.

Since 2022, ICLEI has organised the Gatherings with the central aim of addressing challenges related to the climate emergency at a local level, fostering strategic partnerships, and facilitating access to effective instruments for implementing projects. Approximately 15 editions have already been held, distributed across various regions of Brazilian territory. Cities such as Recife (PE), Nova Lima and Belo Horizonte (MG), João Pessoa (PB), São Leopoldo (RS), Natal (RN), Teresina (PI), Boa Vista (RR), Porto Velho (RO), Belém and Barcarena (PA), for example, have already hosted the Gatherings.

The scope and impact of the events are evidenced by the participation of hundreds of key players and experts, who contributed extensive hours of qualified debates on fundamental themes for sustainable development such as “Territorial Reconversion”, “Energy Transition”, “Electromobility and Smart Cities”, “Nature-Based Solutions and Biodiversity”, “Innovation for Sustainability”, “Sustainable Food Systems”, “Environmental Education”, ”Protagonism of Cities and Climate Action“ and many others. ”The ICLEI Encounters materialise one of ICLEI's operating premises: the essence of network work. The connections formed from the exchange of experiences at the event continue to multiply and reverberate. Many new projects are implemented as a result of the ICLEI Encounters", highlights Perpétuo.

Local dialogues with global connections: the role of the Town Hall in the COPs

In addition to fostering debate and articulation at national and regional levels, ICLEI's Meetings integrate a global strategy for strengthening multilevel climate governance. One of the main milestones of this effort is the Multilevel Action & Urbanization Pavilion, organised by ICLEI since COP23, in partnership with UN-Habitat and other international organisations. This is the UN's official space for the voices of cities and regions in global climate negotiations.

Within this space, the Town Hall It has solidified itself as one of the most relevant moments for dialogue between the various levels of government and sectors of civil society at the COPs. The format promotes thematic meetings between representatives of local and regional governments, national governments, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society, fostering integrated solutions, alignment of priorities, and strengthening joint action in pursuit of the Paris Agreement's goals.

In this context, the ICLEI 2025 Meetings will act as preparatory and coordinating spaces for the COP30 Town Hall. The inputs, commitments, and good practices shared during the Meetings will help to form the Brazilian narrative of subnational climate action that will be presented in Belém, promoting a direct transition from local to global and strengthening the leadership of local governments in international decision-making bodies.

News for the ICLEI Meetings 2025 editions

Unlike previous editions, ICLEI Meetings will host regional workshops throughout the year of the participatory process for the National Urban Afforestation Plan (PlaNAU), with the aim of promoting urban afforestation management in Brazil to face the urban challenges imposed by the climate crisis and foster greener, more resilient cities. The collaboration of local governments is essential to ensure the success of this initiative and for the plan to meet the specificities of each region, resulting in tangible benefits for cities and urban populations.

As part of the implementation of the Resilient Green Cities Programme (PCVR), the National Urban Greening Plan (PlaNAU) is under development and is an initiative coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and implemented by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, in partnership with the Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL) and with the support of academic and research institutions and the Brazilian Society of Urban Greening (SBAU).

The meetings of the CB27 Forum, which brings together environmental secretariats and secretaries from Brazilian capitals, will also form part of the schedule for the Encounters with the aim of expanding the initiative's reach. Created in 2012, the Forum of Environmental Secretaries of Brazilian Capitals (CB27) is an initiative that aims to strengthen cooperation among capitals for the advancement of urban environmental and climate policies. With the support of ICLEI South America and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), the CB27 promotes meetings, exchanges, and articulations to increase the influence of cities on the national and international sustainability agenda.

In addition to partnerships with the Ministry of Cities and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the ICLEI Meetings are supported institutionally by strategic entities such as CDP Latin America, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), and the private sector through sponsorship from MRV&CO and Netzero.

More information

Your city can host an ICLEI Meeting on the pathway to COP30 – Get in touch: RIA contact: membros-sams@iclei.org

Your company can support the initiative. Become a sponsor – Get in touch: marketing.sams@iclei.org . 

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