ON THE ROAD TO COP30: BRAZIL LAUNCHES NATIONAL PROGRAM TO STRUCTURE 100 HIGH IMPACT CLIMATE ACTIONS IN CITIES WITH SUPPORT FROM C40 AND GCoM

Green Resilient Model Cities Program to benefit 50 cities through direct local government engagement aligned with CHAMP initiative – 26 of them are GCoM cities

Brasilia, Brazil (27 March 2025) – The Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has announced the 50 cities selected for the first phase of Brazil’s world-leading Green Resilient Model Cities Program. 

Each municipality will receive technical support to create two high-impact climate actions: one focused on mitigation, aimed at reducing emissions that drive the climate crisis, and another on adaptation, enabling cities to anticipate and tackle the effects. 

The initiative is a partnership between the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, with funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies. It is also supported by key strategic partners such as CDP Latin America and the National Front of Mayors (FNP).

The first five selected cities, announced in late January, represent each region of Brazil: Maranguape (Ceará), Rio Branco (Acre), Corumbá (Mato Grosso do Sul), Caxias do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul), and Serra (Espírito Santo). The other 45 municipalities (see full list below) were revealed on Thursday by the Ministry of the Environment, alongside the Ministries of Cities (MCid) and Science, Technology, and Innovation (MCTI), as well as the mayors of the 50 selected cities.

The Brazilian Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, said:

“At COP30, which will be the COP of accelerated implementation, collaborative action will be essential. The Resilient Green Cities Program is driving 100 transformative climate actions, including the restoration of urban green areas and the electrification of the bus fleet in 50 cities, demonstrating how partnerships across all levels of government build a resilient and sustainable future for all.”

The announcement took place during a high-level event in the capital on March 27-28, which featured a key panel organised by the National Front of Mayors (FNP), titled Understanding Climate Federalism in Brazil. The discussion explored how the Coalition for High Ambition for Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action can strengthen climate federalism within the country and globally. Other panels focused on financing opportunities to support implementation, showcasing national funds linked to the program, including the Climate Fund, Pró-Cidades, and the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT), and the Resilient Green Peripheries public call for proposals.

GCoM Co-Managing Director, Andy Deacon, said: 

“Through the Green Resilient Model Cities Program, Brazil is demonstrating how cities and local governments lead on climate from the front. By providing the data, digital infrastructure, and technical support needed to get from planning to action implementation faster than ever before, this pioneering 50-city program can serve as a model that can spur climate solutions that reduce emissions, build resilience, and improve livelihoods – at scale, and built on a bedrock of partnership between national and local governments.”

Participating cities will gain access to a suite of resources, including a detailed assessment of their local climate context, strategic guidance for both mitigation and adaptation, and support to design one mitigation and one adaptation action that includes cost estimates, timelines, and monitoring indicators. Ongoing training will also be provided to maximize the use of available data and tools.

CHAMP – Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action

The programme represents a significant step by the Brazilian government to align with the Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) for Climate Action, a global initiative to strengthen national and subnational climate action ahead of COP30 to deliver more ambitious National Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2025. Brazil has been a signatory since its launch at COP28 in Dubai in 2023.

CHAMP is a voluntary agreement among COP member countries to enhance the involvement of subnational actors – such as states, cities, and regions – in national climate plans and strategies. So far, 75 countries have joined the initiative, with Brazil standing out as a global leader among CHAMP signatories. In November 2024, the country formally incorporated the principle of climate federalism into its updated NDC– the document outlining national targets and commitments under the Paris Agreement.

C40’s Special Advisor for CHAMP National Engagement, Carolina Urrutia, said:

“Brazil has a tremendous opportunity to include climate federalism, a concept highlighted in their NDC and in the Federal Government’s new institutional framework through the creation of the Council of the Federation. As the COP President, Brazil can set a global precedent by demonstrating the power of multi-level governance in tackling the climate crisis. This event marks a crucial step in turning commitments into action and highlights the vital role of cities in driving meaningful climate solutions.” 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Cities and the Environment

The program also includes an innovative AI-powered platform to support participating cities. A prototype is expected to be launched in the second half of the year and will allow participating municipalities to access emissions and climate risk profiles, while receiving evidence-driven AI recommendations to help identify priority actions for accelerating their transition toward a more sustainable future.

A multidisciplinary technical team from GCoM and C40 is developing the platform, which will be shared with the Ministry of the Environment. Together, implementing partners will explore how this solution can be scaled across cities and local governments in Brazil and other countries. 

Initial data for the platform comes from pilot cities and will be continuously updated by municipal managers. The AI model will analyze four key indicators: economic, geographic, and urban profile of cities; risk exposure; greenhouse gas emissions; and local political priorities. 

The mayor of the city of Serra, Weverson Meireles, celebrated the city’s inclusion in the program and complimented:

“We have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the future of our city and serve as a model for others striving for sustainable and innovative growth. It is essential to combine economic development with a commitment to the environment. Being selected as one of the Brazilian cities to join this program is a source of pride and reinforces our responsibility to adopt more sustainable and resilient practices. Serra is a city that connects progress and sustainability, and we are determined to make it a national benchmark by joining forces in a pact for innovation and respect for the planet.”

List of Green Resilient Model Cities (GCoM Signatory Cities in bold) 

Northern Region

Rio Branco (Acre), Abaetetuba (Pará), Altamira (Pará), Boa Vista (Roraima), Cametá (Pará), Caracaraí (Roraima), Ji-Paraná (Rondônia), Manaus (Amazonas), Parintins (Amazonas), and Tarauacá (Acre).

Northeastern Region

Maranguape (Ceará), Arapiraca (Alagoas), Cajazeiras (Paraíba), Camaragibe (Pernambuco), Crato (Ceará), Fortaleza (Ceará), Ilhéus (Bahia), Itapipoca (Ceará), Juazeiro (Bahia), Mossoró (Rio Grande do Norte), Palmeira dos Índios (Alagoas), São Cristóvão (Sergipe), Sobral (Ceará), and Vitória de Santo Antão (Pernambuco).

Central-West Region

Corumbá (Mato Grosso do Sul), Cáceres (Mato Grosso), Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul), Coxim (Mato Grosso do Sul), Cuiabá (Mato Grosso), Formosa (Goiás), Goiânia (Goiás), Miranda (Mato Grosso do Sul), Sinop (Mato Grosso), and Tangará da Serra (Mato Grosso).

Southeastern Region

Serra (Espírito Santo), Aracruz (Espírito Santo), Cariacica (Espírito Santo), Contagem (Minas Gerais), Montes Claros (Minas Gerais), Petrópolis (Rio de Janeiro), Ribeirão das Neves (Rio de Janeiro), Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro), São João de Meriti (Rio de Janeiro), and Sorocaba (São Paulo).

Southern Region

Caxias do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul), Campo Largo (Paraná), Cruzeiro do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul), Gravataí (Rio Grande do Sul), Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul), and São Leopoldo (Rio Grande do Sul).