In a context of intense urbanization and greater concentration of people in cities, modern society faces the challenge of accommodating this population and ensuring the supply of services and resources to meet the growing demand. The supply of energy from clean and sustainable sources is at the heart of this challenge. To address energy efficiency issues in cities from a national, state and municipal perspective, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the World Resources Institute Brazil (WRI Brazil) are promoting the Seminar “Energy Efficiency in Cities”, this Thursday morning (21), in Belo Horizonte, with support from BYD, Sebrae-MG, Belo Horizonte City Hall, CEMIG and the Government of the State of Minas Gerais.

The event will bring together, for the first time, the Brazilian cities that will join the... BEA Platform – Building Efficiency Accelerator (Building Efficiency Accelerator) and build a common path for promoting energy efficiency. The initiative is carried out within the framework of Sustainable Energy Platform for All (Sustainable Energy for All – SE4ALL), launched in 2011 and led by former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.

Organized into three thematic panels, the seminar will bring together representatives from the public and private sectors to present key efficiency initiatives within their institutions and showcase successful case studies and experiences. The first panel will explore initiatives by the Federal Government to promote efficiency in municipalities, with representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Cities, and the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The second panel will address the perspective of the state government, and particularly the state of Minas Gerais, on opportunities for municipalities and small businesses. This discussion will include experts from BDMG, Sebrae, CEMIG, the Government of the State of Minas Gerais, and representatives from energy companies. Finally, the third panel will delve into the case of the city of Palmas and its local initiatives to stimulate energy efficiency and the generation of energy from clean sources.

Check out the full schedule.

In the afternoon, a closed workshop for invited guests will be held with the objective of mapping barriers and opportunities for energy efficiency and renewable energies in municipalities, which will support the next phases of the BEA Platform. The results of the discussion will be taken to the Thematic Chambers of the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change for the formulation of a proposal on the implementation strategy of the Brazilian NDC, which will be presented to the Federal Government.

To participate, register via online form.

Context

Buildings account for ⅓ of global energy demand and ¼ of global greenhouse gas emissions (BEA). The potential for reducing energy consumption in buildings and constructions, in turn, is also of great impact: it would be possible to reduce demand by ⅓ by 2050 if efficiency measures were adopted on a large scale, which means less dependence on fossil fuels and a drop in GHG emissions, as well as resource savings.

The global BEA initiative – Energy Efficiency in Buildings, coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the World Resources Institute (WRI Brazil) in Brazil, aims to double the rate of improvement in energy efficiency in the construction sector by 2030.

BEA is a global partnership developed to complement other existing networks, engaging cities with potential partners from the private sector, academia, and multilateral agencies. Its objectives also directly align with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, notably SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy.

About the filmmakers:

ICLEI South America – ICLEI is the world's leading association of local governments dedicated to sustainable development, whose global network connects more than 1,500 state and city governments of various sizes in over 100 countries. Driven by the cause of mobilizing local governments to build more sustainable cities, ICLEI offers support for them to develop their sustainability policies and actions. The Secretariat for South America connects its more than 55 members in 8 countries to this global movement. Over the years, it has distinguished itself in the development and execution of projects on the themes of: Climate and Low-Carbon Development, Resilience, Solid Waste, Sustainable Public Procurement, Urban Biodiversity, among others.

O WRI Brazil Sustainable Cities It assists governments and companies in developing and implementing sustainable solutions for mobility and urban development problems in Brazilian cities. By promoting sustainable development, WRI Brasil Sustainable Cities works to reduce pollution, improve public health, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and create safe, accessible, and pleasant urban public spaces. It has signed Technical Cooperation Agreements with more than 15 cities, including Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Belo Horizonte (MG), and Curitiba (PR).