Climate federalism and sustainable local urban development

Alexandre Fontenelle-Weber and Fernando Tulio Salva Rocha Franco

In the Brazilian federal system, the successful implementation of climate action at the frontline depends on coordination between actors at different levels. This involves setting climate goals, strengthening capacities and creating instruments that are aligned with the variety of regional, municipal and territorial contexts and that consider the impact of climate on historical situations of inequalities and socio-spatial vulnerabilities that are evident in the challenges of transportation, housing, waste management, among other issues.

This exercise requires bringing together different interlocutors. The proposal is to organize a debate and a workshop over a period of time, bringing together: (i) representatives of the federal government (cities and environment department), (ii) organizations that have worked on the theme of Brazilian climate federalism, such as FNP, ABM, GIZ, C40, ICLEI, WRI and the ZeroCem Institute itself, (iii) members of academia that have developed research on the theme, such as FGV, and (iv) socio-environmental movements with local perspectives.

Presentations:

Land use and occupation management in the Guarapiranga Basin: conflicts, monitoring and challenges in the face of climate change
Carlos Alberto Pinheiro de Souza

Challenges and innovations in Brazilian city planning in the context of the climate emergency
Renata Maria Pinto Moreira, Angélica Benatti Alvim, Andresa Ledo Marques and Luciana Varanda

Environmental urban planning: the articulation between the Mananciais Program, the São Paulo Strategic Master Plan (PDE) and the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC)
Viviane Manzione Rubio, Thiago Ferraz do Amaral, Caio Albuquerque Escaleira and Luana Siqueira Bernardes

Disputed Field: The Advancement of Wind Power Projects and the Right to Housing in the Quilombo de Macambira (RN)
Rani Priscila Sousa, Jessica Bittencourt Bezerra, Maria Dulce Picanço Bentes Sobrinha and João Marcos de Almeida Lopes

Let's put culture on the agenda in the territories and technical assistance on construction sites.
Claudia Teresa Pereira Pires

Free

Registration

Registrations must be made here.

Selection will be made in order of registration.

Registration will be open until the start of the activity, on site, as long as there are spaces available.

We thank everyone who participated and visited the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, from September 18 to October 19, 2025

NOTE OF CONDOLENCE

With deep sorrow, the Brazilian Institute of Architects – São Paulo Department (IABsp) mourns the passing of architect and landscape architect Kongjian Yu, a global leader in ecological urbanism, and the members of his team who accompanied him, tragically killed during the filming of a documentary. The institute is honored to have had him as a participant in the 14th São Paulo International Architecture Biennial, where his transformative vision strengthened the dialogue between global challenges and local realities. IABsp emphasizes that Yu's contribution, which transcends borders, will remain an inspiration for generations and expresses its condolences to China, to the families of all the deceased, to his friends, and to all those impacted by his genius and dedication. Read the full note here.