The COP30 (United Nations Climate Change Conference 2025), which took place between November 10th and 21st, put Belém (PA) on the map of major global discussions on climate. Jorge Vaz, a city councilor in the city that hosted the delegations and was the stage for the negotiations, followed the decisions being made, the strategies outlined for mitigation and adaptation, and witnessed structural changes in the city itself to accommodate the debate on sustainability.
Alumni RenovaBR, the councilman describes the moment as "enriching." According to him, the drainage works, the revitalization of tourist spaces, and the expansion of popular participation showed a Belém more prepared to discuss the future and resilience. "The greatest gain was the exchange of experiences," he affirms, emphasizing that visitors also learned how Pará builds politics with social participation and defense of the forest.
Amazonian cities and climate resilience
According to the councilman, the conference reinforced a central point: that the Amazonian capitals share similar challenges. He believes they need to move forward together. As an example, he cites the importance of climate resilience projects in these regions, given that almost all face challenges related to occupation and expansion along riverbanks. He believes that mayors from the region left the event with valuable ideas for dealing with extreme events and expanding adaptation projects.
Climate education as a strategy for the future
Jorge highlights the municipal Climate Ambassadors program, which took students to experience the conference firsthand, as a positive step in addressing climate change. "Raising this awareness from an early age is fundamental for a well-rounded civic education," he argues.
Furthermore, the councilman emphasizes that Belém already has a strong vocation to become a reference in climate education, uniting traditional scientific institutions and a daily relationship with nature. Before the COP, he says he proposed the creation of a scientific sustainability olympiad to encourage young people to delve deeper into the subject.
Back to his legislative routine, Jorge emphasizes that city councils play a decisive role in city planning. For him, the allocation of resources for climate adaptation projects and the debate on urban zoning are priority areas. He specifically cites the PROMABEN and PROMMAF programs, the latter responsible for adapting three neighborhoods where he grew up and still lives.
With 65% of its territory comprised of islands, Belém maintains an extensive area of forest and could become a benchmark in preservation. Jorge sees potential for the municipality to receive resources through carbon markets, following initiatives already consolidated by the government of Pará. "It's an effective way to keep the forest standing and reinforce the right to the city for everyone," he states.
With the newly created Bioeconomy Park, he argues that Belém should follow examples like Porto Maravalley in Rio and connect universities, environmental agencies, and research centers to develop consistent projects. "We have the actors; now we need to invest in coordination," he concludes.
