The continuous increase in the Earth's average temperature caused by the emission of greenhouse gases – resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and intensive agricultural practices – is reinforcing the importance of the debate on the role of public policies in adapting cities and minimizing the risks of the climate emergency. According to the 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the effects are already being felt in various regions of the planet and have direct impacts on life in cities, especially in tropical and developing countries, such as Brazil.

In the Brazilian Northeast, the scenario is particularly challenging. According to the Brazilian Panel on Climate Change (PBMC, 2023), the semi-arid region is already registering an average increase of 1.5 °C compared to pre-industrial levels. This increase is associated with more prolonged droughts, water scarcity, collapses in urban water supply, and extreme weather events such as floods and heat waves. In capitals like Recife (PE), phenomena such as urban heat islands and the increase in days with temperatures above 35 °C have intensified, mainly affecting vulnerable populations.

Recent data from the Secretariat of Agrarian Development, Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Government of Pernambuco (IPA) reveals that the state is considered a "climate hotspot," with temperatures up to 1.64 °C above the historical average in the last 12 months. While the Sertão and Agreste regions face severe droughts, the coast suffers from coastal erosion, rising sea levels, and intense rainfall. These impacts affect key sectors such as family farming, urban water supply, artisanal fishing, and infrastructure, highlighting the urgent need for public adaptation policies. 

It is in this context that, between August 12th and 14th, the event takes place in the municipality of Brejo da Madre de Deus, the 1st Pernambuco Meeting of ICLEI Brazil (Registrations). The initiative aims to bring together local governments, representatives from state and federal governments, the third sector, the private sector, and academia to discuss sustainable strategies for addressing climate change within the scope of local government action.

With the theme “Biodiversity and Circular Economy,” the event will address the role of Brazilian subnational governments in the environmental agenda, highlighting climate federalism, the intersection of biodiversity and climate agendas considering the results of COP 16 and the perspectives for COP 30, and pathways for implementing mitigation, adaptation, and resilience actions. The program includes workshops, roundtables, and technical visits, preparing municipalities for the context of the event. COP30, which will take place in Brazil in November of this year.

The ICLEI Brazil Meetings – a journey towards COP30

The ICLEI Brazil Meetings are events that travel throughout Brazil, connecting diverse actors in society, especially public agents, to discuss challenges and solutions on the sustainable urban development agenda. In 2025, the events propose multi-sectoral dialogues in preparation for COP30. 

For Rodrigo Perpétuo, executive secretary of ICLEI South America, COP30 represents a window of opportunity to accelerate the climate transition in Brazil. “We are bringing the global debate to the local level, strengthening the capacities of municipalities to transform their commitments into concrete actions,” he states. “Through these meetings, we promote peer-to-peer exchanges of experience; we share content, generate connections, and prepare municipalities for opportunities to access technical and financial resources that will arise as a result of the COP being held in Brazil. In this way, it is possible to encourage municipalities to translate their commitments to the sustainable agenda into actions within their territories,” Perpétuo emphasizes. 

The Pernambuco Meeting thus establishes itself as a strategic space for preparation for COP30 and reinforces the importance of climate federalism and multilevel cooperation to face one of the greatest challenges of the century: ensuring resilience for cities and quality of life for future generations.

A unique experience in the state of Pernambuco.

The municipality of Brejo da Madre de Deus, host of the meeting, has been an active member of the network since 2021 and has stood out for its commitment to sustainable practices. The municipality was recognized as the “Capital of Agroecology” in 2012 and has already promoted actions such as the preparation of its greenhouse gas emissions inventory and the formal recognition of the global climate emergency through a municipal decree. Located about 200 kilometers from the capital Recife, the city boasts a number of attractive features such as historical artifacts, unique natural beauty in the region, as well as rich gastronomy and typical handicrafts, which should provide participants of the Meeting with a unique experience. 

ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability — is an international organization that supports cities and regions in developing policies focused on the environment and sustainable urban development. Through the ICLEI Brazil Meetings, the network strengthens the connection between municipalities, encouraging low-carbon practices, circular economy, and nature-based solutions.

About the Pernambuco Meeting

The 1st Pernambuco ICLEI Meeting is a joint initiative of ICLEI Brazil and the Municipality of Brejo Madre de Deus, in conjunction with the Town Hall COP30 process. It has the institutional support of the Ministry of Cities and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change. It counts among its ICLEI partners for 2025: MRV and NetZero. And with the institutional partners: Government of Pernambuco, Pernambuco Municipal Association (AMUPE), CDP, Making Cities Resilient 2030 (MCR2030), Brazilian Association of Municipalities (ABM), Brazilian Development Association (ABDE), and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy – Latin America, funded by the European Union.

Registration: CLICK HERE

About ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is a global network of over 2,500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development. Active in over 125 countries, ICLEI influences sustainability policies and drives action for zero-carbon, nature-based, equitable, resilient and circular development. ICLEI is the focal point for Local and Municipal Governments (LGMA) at both the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity. Therefore, it has UN consultative status, acting as a spokesperson for local and regional governments in international dynamics.

In Brazil, ICLEI brings together a broad network of local and state governments committed to sustainable development, with the goal of transforming global agreements on the environmental agenda into local action, offering access to knowledge, partnerships, and capacity building to generate systemic changes in favor of urban sustainability. More at: https://americadosul.iclei.org/