Between August 19th and 21st, Curitiba hosted the Atlantic Forest Conference – PRE-COP Biomes, bringing together governors, mayors, state secretaries, national and international leaders, as well as representatives of civil society and multilateral organizations. The event consolidated the capital of Paraná as a stage for articulation around climate action, biodiversity conservation, and strengthening environmental governance in Brazil, in preparation for COP 30, which will take place in Belém in 2025.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Executive Director of COP 30, representatives from the UN and UNIDO, and featured a performance by the Cascavel Bicho do Paraná Country Fiddle Orchestra.

The conference debates began with the session “General context and perspectives of COP 30 for the climate agenda in Brazil – the role of the Union, States and Municipalities in national climate governance,” which addressed the challenges and opportunities of COP 30 for the country. The panel highlighted the importance of cooperation between the Union, states and municipalities to transform international commitments into effective public policies with real impact on the Atlantic Forest biome. Participants included Bianca Brasil (UN), Renato Casagrande (Governor of Espírito Santo), Rafael Greca (Secretary of State for Sustainable Development of Paraná), Eduardo Pimentel (Mayor of Curitiba), and Rodrigo Perpétuo (Executive Director of ICLEI South America), moderated by Guilherme Syrkis (Centro Brasil no Clima – CBC).

The panel on Biodiversity Conservation discussed priority strategies for conserving and restoring the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest, considering climate change, ongoing public policies, and local experiences with potential for replicability. The debate reinforced the centrality of natural areas and ecological assets for climate action, social inclusion, and the promotion of environmental justice. Participants included Julie Messias (NBS Alliance, moderator), Clóvis Borges (Grande Reserva Mata Atlântica), Guilherme Dias (DPMA), Malu Nunes (Fundação Boticário), and Rafael Andreguetto (Secretaria de Estado do Desenvolvimento Sustentável – Sedest).

In the Sustainable Agriculture and Nature-Based Solutions session, participants discussed ways to reconcile agricultural productivity and environmental conservation, focusing on innovative production practices, public policies, and financial instruments capable of boosting the sector's sustainability. This panel included Leverci (moderator), Márcio Nunes (Secretary of State for Agriculture and Supply), Jay Amstel (UNEP), Mariana Coelho (UNIDO), and Ricardo de Figueiredo (Net Zero).

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction panel discussed opportunities and challenges for mitigating emissions in the context of the Atlantic Forest, highlighting the importance of the biome for Brazil's climate goals towards COP 30. Participants included Fabiana Campos (moderator), Victor Anequini (CBC), Rafaela Queiroz and Davi Bomtempo (CNI), Daniel Matos (ABCP), Diego Blanc (C40), and Ety Carneiro (Hospital Pequeno Príncipe).

The session on Adaptation to Climate Change brought discussions about strategies to strengthen the socio-environmental resilience of the biome in the face of extreme weather events, integrating science, traditional knowledge, and territorial planning. Participants included Paulo de Tarso (SIMEPAR), Marilza Dias (Municipal Secretary of the Environment of Curitiba), Axel Grael (forestry engineer and former mayor of Niterói), Regiane Borsato (Instituto Life), and Maria Tereza Uille (sociology and law).

The panel on Instruments and Mechanisms for Financing and Climate Funds discussed strategies for raising funds for conservation, adaptation, and mitigation projects, including credit lines, climate funds, and market mechanisms, with special attention to social inclusion and climate justice. Participants included Ana Zornig Jayme (moderator, Curitiba Institute for Urban Planning and Research), Fernando Campos (Sitawi), Marta Bandeira de Freitas (BNDES), Dayene Peixoto (Ministry of Planning), and Lisiane Astarita de Limas (BRDE).

Finally, the Climate Justice and Governance session promoted reflections on equity, human rights, and institutional governance in the Brazilian climate agenda, highlighting the need for inclusive policies that protect vulnerable populations. Participants included Isabela Barbosa (ICLEI, moderator), Mario Mantovani (ANAMA), Councilor Ivens Zschoerper Linhares (TCE-PR), Luiz Cláudio Romanelli (Legislative Assembly of Paraná), Romancil Gentil Cretã (APIB), and Dr. Daniel Pedro Lourenço (Public Prosecutor's Office of Paraná).

The conference concluded with the presentation of the Curitiba Charter, a document that consolidates commitments and guidelines for climate action by Brazilian subnational entities, aligning them with the objectives of COP 30 and the Paris Agreement.

As part of the program, the winners of the "Climate Task Force" public call for proposals were also announced. This initiative, from ICLEI South America and the Curitiba City Hall, with support from the Paraná State Government's Secretariat for Sustainable Development, aimed to identify, value, and strengthen youth-led projects focused on adapting to climate change and building resilience in local communities.

Inspired by the second letter from the COP Presidency, the call for proposals invited youth groups and schools in Curitiba to present actions that address the impacts of climate change on a local scale. These initiatives stand out as examples of self-determined contributions, a concept that proposes voluntary actions that complement the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), connecting global goals to the realities of local territories—especially the experiences and challenges faced by young people.

First place went to the Dizaterra project, by Lígia Takau, which seeks to democratize complex information about climate change and boost community awareness for the prevention of impacts. The initiative combats misinformation that delays climate action and, in its expansion, proposes that young people from the outskirts of Curitiba and the Metropolitan Region produce community-based socio-environmental journalism, giving visibility to problems such as floods, droughts and biodiversity loss, as well as local solutions that strengthen climate justice and territorial resilience.

The second-place winner was the Belahortinha project, by Andréia de Lara Kogus, which combines organic production, composting, and the creation of a micro-agroforestry area with nearly 300 seedlings, medicinal plants, and small ponds that restore the spring and strengthen biodiversity, providing thermal and acoustic comfort to the surrounding area.

Third place went to ManuPekena Biscuit, an initiative by Mariana Triachini and Isabela Malinsky, which promotes sustainable development by empowering women, young people, and the elderly in sustainable artisanal techniques. The project reduces pressure on predatory practices, generates income, values local culture, and integrates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthening vulnerable communities to face climate challenges.

The Atlantic Forest Conference – PRE-COP Biomes was an event organized by Government of Paraná, from the Curitiba City Hall and the Brazil Green Consortium, with the support of Brazilian Association of State Environmental Entities (ABEMA), from ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, of Brazil Climate Center (CBC), of Paraná Environmental Technology and Monitoring System (SIMEPAR), from the Sanitation Company of Paraná (SANEPAR), of Water and Land Institute and of South and Southeast Integration Consortium (COSUD).