On June 12th, during the 2nd Southeast Meeting of ICLEI Brazil, In Campinas, the winning initiative of the public call was announced. Youth Climate Action in Campinas, launched by ICLEI in partnership with the city government. The initiative sought to strengthen youth leadership, broaden engagement with the global climate agenda, and promote solutions that foster climate justice from a local perspective.

Inspired by the traditional Brazilian community practice of bringing people together to solve common challenges, the concept of community effort It was given new meaning in the climate context as a symbol of collective, voluntary and decentralized action. This is a movement that recognizes that the transformations necessary to address the climate crisis must also emerge..., from bottom to top — starting from the territories, their realities, cultures, knowledge, and diverse voices.

Based on the concept of self-determined contributions presented in Last letters from the COP 30 presidency, These joint efforts complement the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), making the global climate agenda more effective. more just, plural and connected to the territories.

The project “"Women Feeding Cities"”, The project, developed by professors and students from the "Luiz de Queiroz" School of Agriculture at the University of São Paulo (ESALQ/USP), received first place in the competition. The initiative promotes income, food assistance and training for women in vulnerable situations, connecting food security, gender equality, and climate adaptation.

The winning initiative

The project “Women Feeding Cities”, The project, originally conceived in Itatinga and reformulated in Piracicaba, combines community gardens and technical training. women's empowerment, urban agriculture and climate justice, demonstrating strong community engagement and potential for replicability in other contexts. 

Created by professors and students from the Luiz de Queiroz Higher School of Agriculture (Esalq/USP), the project was born in 2021 from reflections on agroecology and feminism. “The initial research sought to understand how women promote agroecology in their territories and contribute to more sustainable cities in their daily lives, with actions that involve caring for the land, food production, and feeding their families,” says Joana Soares, a Forestry Engineering student and member of the project.

The turning point came after participating in an acceleration program, which allowed for the redesign of the proposal with a focus on its replicability. The project began connecting different actors, such as universities, public authorities, local organizations, and the community itself, to transform idle land into productive, green, and safe spaces. “The idea was much more than just planting vegetables. We wanted to promote the environmental and social restoration of these spaces, train women for self-management, and value grassroots initiatives,” she explains.

In 2024, the project was selected for the international Food System Innovation Challenge in the Netherlands, securing financial and technical support for its expansion. With the partnership of the Piracicaba Department of Agriculture and Sebrae (Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service), the group began a new phase, moving out of the university environment to explore its sustainability in the medium and long term. “We are in a moment of transition. We want this project to take on a life of its own outside the university,” says Joana.

The impact on the lives of the women involved is visible: increased self-esteem, food security, regained autonomy and income. In Piracicaba, the city government provided financial support to the participants through an income transfer program with a minimum wage, transportation vouchers, and basic food baskets. The mapping of the women was done through the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS), strengthening community engagement.

Besides being a production space, the garden became a meeting point and a place of affection. “There were difficult moments, like petty thefts, which made us reflect on the vulnerability of the territory. But it was also there that we found support; the residents themselves began to protect the garden, to take ownership of the space,” recalls Joana. “Afternoon coffee became a ritual. The garden became a space for listening, emotional support, and building self-esteem.”.

The recognition of the initiative by organizations like ICLEI represents fundamental acknowledgment. “Receiving this support is very important because it shows that what we are doing has value beyond our territory. That grassroots initiatives are essential in responding to the climate crisis,” she states. As a reward, the initiative will receive technical mentoring and support to expand its outreach and increase its national and international visibility.

Joana and her team continue to seek resources and partnerships to expand the reach of the initiative. As the proposal matured, the following also emerged... Brazilian Network on Biodiversity and Climate, created to institutionally strengthen the project and allow its replication in other territories, respecting the different realities and vulnerabilities of the country. "Our dream is to transform this project into an institute, with a national presence and work connected to women, the land, and the climate.".

Territorial-based climate mobilization

The community outreach program in Campinas demonstrated that local initiatives, even on a small scale, can generate real impact, especially when built with social participation and attention to inequalities. The "Women Feeding Cities" project is a powerful example of self-determined contribution to climate action, showing how social justice, community empowerment, and environmental regeneration can go hand in hand.

The experience of the Youth Climate Task Force will be shared in a national publication highlighting all the task forces organized throughout 2025, creating a collective legacy towards COP 30 in Belém. Initiatives like this demonstrate the strategic role of communities and territories in building real climate solutions and the power of encounters that give rise to new possible futures.

Check out the video and learn more about the initiative: https://youtu.be/AzvGI38zOmw