ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), the World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Municipality of Teresina invite startups, companies, research institutions, and other organizations to facilitate innovative partnerships in addressing the effects of extreme heat in the city of Teresina through... CiBiX: City-Business Accelerator.

CiBiX is a collaborative journey between the public sector and organizations, seeking to catapult applicable solutions to the challenge of extreme heat in Teresina, one of its main climate vulnerabilities. The scope involves an environment conducive to building partnerships and implementation pathways.

During the workshop, selected organizations will have the opportunity to:

• Participate in meetings with representatives of public authorities;
• Present your proposals for mitigating and adapting to extreme heat;
• Identify opportunities for collaboration and synergy with strategic stakeholders.

The initiative is operated by ICLEI, with support from MCTI, WRI and the Municipality of Teresina, and is funded by the Global Environment Facility through the UrbanShift program, a global platform that brings together leaders and institutions committed to sustainable development and integrated urban planning.

Benefits

By participating in CiBiX, companies and organizations will have access to practical and strategic benefits, such as:

• Direct dialogue with public managers, allowing for an understanding of the real needs of the territory and the identification of avenues for collaboration;
• Strengthening the institutional brand by associating it with an initiative focused on climate innovation and socio-environmental impact;
• Expanding the network of contacts (networking) with key actors from the public, private and civil society sectors;
• National and international visibility through collaboration with networks and think tanks such as ICLEI and WRI.

Participating in CiBiX is a chance to boost innovation, generate public and private value, and contribute concretely to building more resilient and sustainable cities.

Steps

The following developmental phases are presented:

• Application deadline – September 12, 2025;
• Results will be announced on September 18, 2025.;
• Workshop – September 25, 2025.

About Teresina

Teresina has faced a temperature increase of over 1°C in the last 30 years. This scenario exacerbates the formation of urban heat islands and intensifies climate vulnerabilities. Making the city more adaptable requires the implementation of innovative, sustainable solutions with real-world application across the territory.

According to Research conducted with funding from the UN (United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA)., It was possible to gather significant data on the impact of extreme heat on the health of pregnant women in Teresina, with 831% of the women who participated in the research stating that the heat negatively affects their well-being, 66% experiencing frequent discomfort due to the heat, and 44% saying that they face extremely high heat intensity.

Given this scenario, the following open call is launched to companies, startups, and entrepreneurial initiatives interested in creating a new model of climate urbanism—one that is more resilient, innovative, and people-centered.

Challenges

Being one of the hottest capitals in Brazil, with average temperatures exceeding 40ºC at the peak of the dry season, Teresina faces urban heat, heat waves, droughts, and health problems related to climate risks.

Among the main barriers to overcoming these issues are:

• Urban Growth – urban expansion has resulted in the formation of areas lacking basic infrastructure, public services, and economic opportunities, generating environmental and social challenges. This process of land use and occupation transformation, coupled with global warming, is directly related to the increase in urban heat islands and the consequent thermal discomfort of the population;
• Loss of Biodiversity – The Integrated Development Region of Greater Teresina, composed of 15 municipalities, is home to two biomes rich in biodiversity – the Caatinga and the Cerrado. The urban expansion of these municipalities over areas of environmental importance has also contributed to the creation of vulnerabilities not only social, but also related to thermal control;
• Data fragmentation – the lack of an integrated platform for urban, environmental, and socioeconomic data hinders the implementation of scientifically based adaptive and resilient actions.

In turn, the heat in Teresina disproportionately affects low-income areas that lack green spaces and adequate housing. Therefore, innovative and replicable solutions with a positive social impact are needed, also considering the other municipalities of Greater Teresina. Above all, solutions from the private sector in green and blue infrastructure, energy-efficient construction adapted to the heat, among others, are essential.

As a result, CiBiX hopes to contribute to building a Teresina where the impacts of extreme heat are significantly mitigated through tangible strategies, with the support of the private sector, that improve thermal comfort in homes and public spaces, promoting a more resilient and healthy urban environment for all Teresina residents, especially the most vulnerable populations.

General Guidelines

• Solution – the proposals must be directly related to the challenge presented;
• Applications – applications must be submitted within the specified deadline, via the indicated link;
• Representation – at least one representative from the organization must be available to participate fully in the workshop, which will be held over the course of one day;
• Participation: restricted to organizations based in Greater Teresina;
• Certification – certificates of participation will be provided at the end of the workshop.

Access the Registration Form

Contact

• Vinícius Guimarães, Institutional Relations and Advocacy Analyst, ICLEI South America: [email protected] 
• Rafaella Viana, Institutional Representative in Pernambuco and Port Complexes, ICLEI Brazil: [email protected]