First cohort of cities and states will receive support from C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy to deliver implementation-ready climate initiatives by 2027

Curitiba, Brazil, March 24th – C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) announced the first 34 cities and two states in Brazil selected to receive technical and finance-structuring support for climate action projects under the Brazil Mutirão Program. The selected projects focus primarily on urban mobility, waste management, and climate budgeting, with 11 cities in the Amazon region, underscoring its central role in Brazil’s climate agenda following COP30. Six of these Amazonian cities will also receive support to develop Climate Action Plans. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Brazil Mutirão Program helps local governments turn climate ambition into action by mobilizing technical expertise, strengthening institutional coordination, and improving cooperation between Brazil’s national government and local governments to deliver high-impact solutions where they matter most: in cities.

The announcement was made during the General Assembly of the National Front of Mayors in Curitiba. Overall, the program reflects the diversity of Brazil’s territory, bringing together cities of different sizes and all geographic regions, spanning 19 states across the country. Among the selected cities are Curitiba, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, Fortaleza, Belo Horizonte, and Belém, host of COP30 last year. Two states were also selected: Pernambuco and Rio Grande do Sul.

The first cities and regions announced will develop climate projects primarily focused on electric mobility, sustainable mobility and organic waste management. Initiatives include the revitalization and pedestrianization of Belém’s historic commercial center through the Belo Centro urban mobility project; the electrification of Belo Horizonte’s bus system with the deployment of 100 electric buses and charging infrastructure; composting initiatives in Curitiba and the Amazonian city of Ananindeua expected to reduce around 5,000 tons of CO₂e methane emissions annually; and a food waste reduction initiative in the state of Rio Grande do Sul that will expand food bank refrigeration and processing capacity, preventing more than 240 tons of edible food waste per year. 

Across all announced projects, cities and regions are expected to deliver significant climate and urban development outcomes. Urban mobility initiatives include the deployment of approximately 600 electric buses, at least three charging terminals, more than 200 km of cycling infrastructure, 16 km of dedicated bus lanes, nine complete streets or urban parks, and the revitalization of at least three neighborhoods. Waste management projects are expected to enable the treatment of approximately 20,000 tons of organic waste per year, potentially avoiding up to 35,000 tons of CO₂e in methane emissions annually. 

Strengthening Climate Action in the Amazon

11 cities in the Amazon region are participating in the Brazil Mutirão Program, reflecting the region’s strategic importance for Brazil’s climate agenda and COP30’s legacy. The program combines support for climate planning with the development of concrete implementation-ready projects.

Six cities – Barcarena, Altamira, Cáceres, Boa Vista, Parintins, and Rio Branco – will receive support to strengthen local climate governance and develop Climate Action Plans, helping municipalities build the institutional capacity needed to address climate risks while advancing sustainable urban development.

In parallel, other Amazonian cities will advance sector-specific climate projects. Benevides and Ananindeua will structure organic waste management initiatives to reduce methane emissions and strengthen circular economy solutions. Belém and Porto Velho will implement sustainable urban mobility projects, including public transport improvements and the electrification of urban fleets.

By combining planning with implementation support, the Mutirão Program strengthens the role of Amazonian cities as key actors in protecting the region’s ecosystems while improving residents’ quality of life. Protecting the forest also depends on resilient, sustainable cities, where climate planning, infrastructure investment, and inclusive development reduce vulnerability to floods, droughts, and extreme climate events.

Through stronger governance, improved data use, and the development of climate action strategies, the initiative positions Amazonian cities not only as guardians of a globally critical biome but also as laboratories for sustainable urban development that can inform climate action across Brazil and beyond.

Michael R. Bloomberg, UN Special Envoy on Climate Ambition and Solutions and founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies, said:

“Cities continue to make important strides fighting climate change, and Brazilian mayors are helping to lead the way with projects that cut emissions, strengthen local infrastructure, and create economic opportunity for communities. By providing cities and states with technical support and data, and by building partnerships across all levels of government, this initiative can help Brazil speed up progress and offer a blueprint that countries around the world can follow.”

Ana Toni, COP30 CEO, said:

“Cities are where the fight against climate change is won or lost, and mayors are proving that local leadership can turn climate ambition into real progress for people. By bringing together national and local governments around shared data and proven solutions, this initiative shows how multilevel partnerships can deliver climate action at scale, offering a practical blueprint that countries around the world can follow.”

Sebastião Melo, Mayor of Porto Alegre and President of the National Front of Mayors (FNP), said:

“We advocate for a national plan that recognizes regional and local specificities and is supported by public investment and strong partnerships. Life happens in cities, and the partnership between the National Front of Mayors (FNP), C40 Cities, and the Global Covenant of Mayors shows the importance of bringing leaders together to move beyond rhetoric and make real progress. It is in municipalities that citizens most strongly feel the impacts of climate change, and for that very reason, action must also start there. This strategic effort led by FNP is particularly important because it engages cities of all sizes, across every region of Brazil, demonstrating that local governments play a decisive role in turning commitments into action and improving people’s lives.”

The Mayor of the City of Curitiba, Eduardo Pimentel, said:

“When cities and partners work together, climate commitments move beyond rhetoric and become concrete results in people’s daily lives. Climate action happens in cities, where people live and where the impacts of climate change are felt first. Curitiba is proud of its pioneering trajectory in urban sustainability and innovative mobility. Throughout our history, we have learned that addressing climate challenges requires cooperation, innovation, and the ability to implement practical solutions. As a member city of C40, we remain committed to leading by example and strengthening partnerships that enable us to accelerate solutions and build cities that are more resilient, sustainable, and prepared for the future.”

Andy Deacon, co-Managing Director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) and Managing Director Multi Level Partnerships, said:

“Climate action moves faster and delivers greater impact when national and local governments work together. The Brazil Mutirão Program shows how multilevel partnerships can turn ambition into implementation by equipping cities and regions with the tools, data, and financing pathways they need to deliver solutions on the ground. By bringing together mayors, national institutions, and global partners, Brazil is demonstrating how collaborative governance can accelerate climate action at scale and more: creating a model that other countries can follow.”

Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities, said:

“Mayors across Brazil are stepping up with bold ideas to tackle the climate crisis while improving everyday life for their residents. The Brazil Mutirão Program is about connecting cities with the technical expertise and partnerships to accelerate plans into action, from cleaner transport systems to smarter waste solutions. By backing city leadership, Brazil is helping demonstrate how local action can drive national and global climate progress.”

First Cohort of Selected Cities and Regions for the Brazil Mutirão Program

Urban Mobility projects

• Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro)
• Salvador (Bahia)
• Fortaleza (Ceará)
• Belém (Pará)
• Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais)
• Caxias do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul)
• Contagem (Minas Gerais)
• Maranguape (Ceará)
• Montes Claros (Minas Gerais)
• Porto Velho (Rondônia)
• State of Pernambuco
• Serra (Espírito Santo)

Waste Management projects 

• Curitiba (Paraná)
• Ananindeua (Pará)
• Aracati (Ceará)
• Beberibe (Ceará)
• Benevides (Pará)
• Carinhanha (Bahia)
• State of Rio Grande do Sul 
• Cascavel (Ceará)
• Florianópolis (Santa Catarina)
• Fortim (Ceará)
• Guaxupé (Minas Gerais)
• Maracaju (Mato Grosso do Sul)
• Pindoretama (Ceará)
• Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul)
• Recife (Pernambuco)
• Rio Branco (Acre)
• São Bento do Sul (Santa Catarina)

Climate Action Plans in Amazon Cities

• Altamira (Pará)
• Barcarena (Pará)
• Boa Vista (Roraima)
• Cáceres (Mato Grosso do Sul)
• Parintins (Amazonas)
• Rio Branco (Acre)

Climate Budgeting

• São Paulo (São Paulo)
• Campinas (São Paulo)
• Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro)
• Curitiba (Paraná)
• Salvador (Bahia)
• Fortaleza (Ceará)
• Recife (Pernambuco)

Mutirão Brazil Program

The Brazil Mutirão Program is a national initiative led by C40 Cities and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM), with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies, to accelerate the implementation of urban climate solutions across Brazil. Launched in November 2025 at the COP30 Local Leaders Forum in Rio de Janeiro, the program mobilizes technical expertise, institutional coordination, and strategic partnerships to help cities move from climate ambition to implementation-ready projects. Through workstreams focused on Urban Mobility, Waste Management, Climate Finance, Access to Climate Data, Climate Budgeting, Inclusive Climate Action, Climate Action Planning in the Amazon, and Climate Diplomacy, the program supports municipalities in developing bankable project pipelines and strengthening local climate governance.

Following a highly competitive selection process that received more than 150 proposals from across the country, the Brazil Mutirão Program is expected to support more than 50 cities and states. The National Front of Mayors (FNP) serves as the facilitating partner, ensuring coordination with municipal leaders and national government ministries. The initiative is delivered through a broad coalition of partners, including the World Resources Institute Brazil (WRI Brazil), the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Instituto 17 + Instituto Pólis (i17), the Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance and Climate Policy Initiative (CCFLA/CPI), the Urban Climate Change Research Network (UCCRN), ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability South America (ICLEI SAMS), the Brazilian Council for Sustainable Construction (CBC), and the Brazilian Association of Municipalities (ABM), working closely with federal institutions such as the Ministry of Cities (MCID), the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA), the COP30 Presidency, the Federation Council, and other national ministries.

Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP)

The Coalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP) is a global initiative launched at COP28 to strengthen collaboration between national governments and local authorities in delivering climate action. By promoting stronger coordination across levels of government, CHAMP aims to accelerate the implementation of climate policies where they have the greatest impact: in cities and regions where people live and where climate solutions are implemented on the ground.

Brazil serves along with Germany as co-chair of the CHAMP Coalition and hosted COP30, reinforcing its leadership in advancing multilevel climate governance. Initiatives such as the Brazil Mutirão Program demonstrate how CHAMP’s principles can be translated into practice by aligning national policy frameworks with local implementation, empowering cities to deliver scalable climate solutions that contribute to global emissions reduction and climate resilience.