The Amazon Biome covers 61% of the Earth’s land surface; it is the world’s largest tropical forest and spans several countries in South America, with the majority located in Brazil. Essential for regulating the global climate, it plays a vital role in sustaining life on the planet. However, between 1985 and 2020, the region lost more than 50 million hectares of forest, with direct impacts on the climate balance, biodiversity and the lives of local communities.

“Given its importance, it is essential that public managers understand its specificities and discuss pathways to formulate effective public policies, integrating conservation and sustainable development actions with the local productive sector,” states Rodrigo Perpétuo, Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America, an international organisation that supports public management on the urban sustainability agenda.

With the aim of strengthening the performance of Amazonian local governments in facing the challenges of climate change and socio-environmental justice, ICLEI is holding the 4th ICLEI Brazil Amazon Meeting, in partnership with the Government of the State of Amapá, between October 6th and 8th, 2025, in Macapá (AP). Under the theme “Connecting Cities Towards COP30”, the event is consolidated as a strategic space for regional articulation in preparation for the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will be held in Belém (PA) in November.

Local conversations with a global connection

According to experts, holding COP30 in Brazil represents a strategic opportunity for the advancement of climate policies, especially in Global South countries. By hosting the conference in Amazonian territory, Brazil gains international visibility and is urged to strengthen its environmental governance, with concrete mitigation and adaptation actions.

The conference should also drive collaboration between different levels of government (federal, state, and municipal) and integrate the climate agenda into areas such as transport, housing, sanitation, land use, and social justice. Furthermore, it can increase investments, international cooperation, access to climate finance, and civil society participation.

“In this context, all ICLEI meetings held in Brazil in 2025 will serve as preparatory spaces for COP30. The inputs, commitments, and good practices shared will form Brazil's narrative of subnational climate action in Belém, promoting a transition from local to global and reinforcing the leadership of local governments,” highlights Bianca Cantoni, Advocacy Coordinator of ICLEI South America.

Bioeconomy as a response to the climate crisis

The North region faces profound social vulnerabilities compounded by the effects of the environmental crisis: floods, heat islands, biodiversity loss and water insecurity. In this scenario, the meeting will promote debates on biodiversity, bioeconomy as an alternative for sustainable development, urban adaptation strategies and green financing lines.

According to the World Bank, keeping forests standing and investing in the bioeconomy could generate up to US$317 billion a year — seven times more than models based on environmental degradation. Products such as açaí, Brazil nuts, native cocoa and essential oils exemplify the potential to build value chains, reduce the carbon footprint and promote innovation based on socio-biodiversity.

Dialogue, cooperation and concrete solutions

For three days, the Meeting will bring together representatives from local and subnational governments, civil society, the private sector, academia, and youth. The programme includes roundtables, workshops, thematic panels, technical visits, and spaces for sharing experiences and building partnerships.

The initiative also launches the call for the Global Climate Mobilisation, which will identify, recognise and support local climate adaptation and resilience initiatives led by young people and schools in Amapá. Projects in sustainable agriculture, clean energy, environmental restoration and climate education are examples of actions that, even on a small scale, generate real impact and connect with global strategies for tackling the climate crisis.

The event is part of a growing movement in the region: previous editions were held in Barcarena/PA (2022), Porto Velho/RO (2023), and Boa Vista/RR (2024), with discussions on climate justice, environmental education, and innovation for urban sustainability. Once again, the aim is to strengthen the leadership of Amazonian municipalities in implementing climate policies and to encourage collaborative actions between different levels of government and sectors of society.

For ICLEI, the urban Amazon plays a central role in building a just ecological transition, uniting innovation, biodiversity, and equity. “The 4th Meeting reinforces this vision by connecting local challenges to the global climate agenda and positioning local governments as key players in building a resilient and sustainable future for the entire region,” concludes Perpétuo.

The 4th ICLEI Brazil Regional Meeting in the Amazon is organised by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the Government of the State of Amapá, and is part of the global Town Hall COP 30 initiative, in partnership with the Amapá State Research Support Foundation (FAPEAP). The event has the institutional support of the Ministry of Cities and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, and ICLEI's partners in 2025: MRV and NetZero. Institutional supporters joining the initiative include: CDP, Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030), the Brazilian Association of Municipalities (ABM), the Brazilian Development Association (ABDE), the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), and the Financial Fund for the Development of the River Plate Basin (FONPLATA).

About ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

Present in over 125 countries, ICLEI connects more than 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. In South America, there are over 150 members, with 97 in Brazil. ICLEI operates through five sustainable development pathways: zero carbon, nature-based, circular, resilient, and equitable.

About the Government of Amapá

As a member of the ICLEI network since 2023, the Government of Amapá has distinguished itself through the implementation of public policies focused on sustainability, with active participation in international forums such as COP 28 and 29. The State is consolidating itself as a regional leader in low-carbon initiatives, climate resilience, and biodiversity valuation.