Amazon Municipality of Barcarena Demonstrates Climate Resilience with Innovative School and Infrastructure Projects
Barcarena, Brazil – A school in the Amazon municipality of Barcarena is emerging as a model for climate resilience, showcasing student-led projects and accelerated infrastructure improvements spurred by preparations for COP30. The initiatives highlight the potential for localized adaptation even as millions across the region face growing climate threats.
Brazil’s Minister of Cities, Jader Filho, acknowledged the school’s success, stating, “The school is an exception and does not reflect the educational reality of the wider Amazon. But it shows what is absolutely possible when financing and political will align.”
Students at the school are actively engaged in sustainability projects, including transforming cooking oil into soap, creating natural dyes from vegetables, and tree planting initiatives to mitigate heat. “Each tree planted is a gesture of love and hope; to adapt is to keep moving forward despite difficulties,” explained student lyndisse Wandra Santos.
The upcoming COP30 climate conference has already catalyzed notable investment in Barcarena. Mayor Ogawa announced the municipality is on track to achieve 90 percent sewage treatment coverage and provide potable water to 95 percent of residents by the end of the year – goals previously projected to take 10 to 15 years. Plans are also underway to transition public transport boats to clean energy sources.
UN-Habitat chief Ms. Rossbach emphasized the urgent need to replicate these investments elsewhere, particularly in housing, given the precarious living conditions of millions vulnerable to climate change. She also highlighted the extreme heat experienced in urban areas like Rio’s Maré slum,where temperatures can exceed the city average by 6°C,based on data collected by residents.
Kamal Kishore of the UN’s Making Cities Resilient campaign cited Barcarena as a “success story,” noting the participation of over 2,000 cities worldwide in the initiative, with a significant number originating from Brazil.
As COP30 unfolds in Belém, barcarena’s experience underscores the importance of local-level action in building climate resilience. The municipality’s progress, from solar-powered classrooms to community-driven projects, demonstrates that adaptation is not merely a future aspiration, but an ongoing reality.
(UN News is reporting from belém, providing comprehensive coverage of COP30.)
