On Monday (February 3rd), an administrative contract was signed between the Intermunicipal Consortium of the Middle Itajaí Valley (CIMVI) and ICLEI South America with the objective of developing the Regional Climate Action Plan for the state of Santa Catarina. The 17 municipalities involved are: Apiúna, Ascurra, Benedito Novo, Blumenau (associated with ICLEI since 2023), Botuverá, Brusque, Doutor Pedrinho, Gaspar, Guabiruba, Ilhota, Indaial, Luiz Alves, Massaranduba, Pomerode, Rio dos Cedros, Rodeio and Timbó. “The partnership we signed today highlights an unusual institutional arrangement, but one that can form a good path for small and medium-sized cities to have their own climate planning instrument. It is therefore a regional effort that allows us to think about multi-level and federative climate cooperation from a different perspective, in order to give it scale and assertiveness,” pointed out Rodrigo Perpétuo, Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America.

The municipalities are part of the Middle Itajaí Valley, which is located within the Itajaí-Açu River basin, one of the most significant in Santa Catarina, both in hydrographic and socioeconomic aspects. The region faces serious problems due to flooding; therefore, it is necessary to enhance sustainable and resilient urban and territorial development by expanding the capacity of local authorities to act on issues of climate change mitigation and adaptation; climate resilience; disaster risk reduction; biodiversity protection; and sustainable infrastructure through Nature-Based Solutions.

“The losses are incalculable. What shocked me most as a municipal manager were the three floods within a month in the municipality of Apiúna. I am certain that through this project, we will find a way forward, bring more security to our population, and do the most important thing: preserve our planet,” said the Mayor of Apiúna, Marcelo Doutel da Silva, President of the Association of Municipalities of the European Valley (AMVE). The cities are part of CIMVI and AMVE, and the Plan will be developed with resources from the Regional Development Bank of the Extreme South (BRDE), through the Green Fund. “It is important that this study takes into account the differences between the municipalities so that the solutions are fair according to the conditions of each one; hence the importance of integration through an association,” explained the Mayor of Rio dos Cedros and President of CIMVI, Jorge Stolf.

The ICLEI proposal aims to implement a pilot project among the municipalities that are part of the Consortium and the Association, with the possibility of replication for the other 20 associations, encompassing all 295 municipalities in the state of Santa Catarina, which has been associated with ICLEI since 2021. “Our role is to assist in the development of our state. We understand that the issue of climate action falls within the scope of the municipalities, which need to lead this process, and ICLEI was created with the objective of promoting these issues. So, what we are doing here is a milestone for the Plan and for Santa Catarina,” declared João Paulo Kleinubing, President of BRDE, during the signing ceremony. The launch ceremony took place during an extraordinary assembly of CIMVI, with the presence of most of the mayors of the region. On that occasion, supplementary credit, financed by BRDE through the Green Fund, was unanimously approved for the execution of the project.

For more information on how ICLEI can collaborate with your region in building a sustainable and resilient future, access our portfolio and contact our team by email: [email protected].