CEBRI participated in the meeting “Red de Ciudades Sostenibles y Alcaldías para la Democracia – Camino a la COP30”, held on October 16, 2025, at the Windsor Leme Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. Organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), in partnership with the Regional Center for Green Growth and Climate Change, the event brought together municipal authorities, experts, academics, and representatives of Latin American organizations to discuss the role of cities in the climate transition and the consolidation of local democracy, in preparation for COP30, which will be hosted in Brazil.
The event was structured into four thematic modules that addressed different dimensions of sustainable urban governance. The first module, led by José Mario Brasiliense, CEO of Oficina Municipal, presented best practices in municipal sustainability and innovation, highlighting experiences from Presidente Prudente, Campina Grande, and Anápolis in the areas of solid waste management, creative economy, and industrial development. The panel also emphasized the importance of strengthening multilevel governance and territorial planning to align local policies with global sustainability goals. The second module dealt with local public safety management tools, with a presentation by Joana Monteiro, from the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), on the use of integrated data and preventive policies in the city of Rio de Janeiro, emphasizing the need for coordination between different levels of government.
In the afternoon, the third module featured Claudio Radonich, mayor of Punta Arenas (Chile), who addressed the challenges and opportunities related to Antarctica and climate change. In his presentation, he highlighted the importance of international cooperation and joint action between local governments in the face of melting polar ice caps and global environmental impacts. Radonich emphasized the strategic role of Punta Arenas as the main gateway to the Antarctic continent, a geographical position that gives the city a unique leading role in logistics and scientific research in the region. Currently, more than twenty countries operate their scientific and logistical missions to Antarctica from Punta Arenas, creating an international ecosystem of cooperation and innovation. This concentration of capabilities transforms the city into a central geopolitical link in the Global South, contributing to the scientific and environmental governance of one of the most sensitive and contested territories on the planet.
The fourth module, led by Fátima Daudt, former mayor of Novo Hamburgo (RS), discussed urban resilience and climate adaptation strategies, focusing on inclusive and integrated public policies. The former mayor emphasized the importance of cooperation between cities and the exchange of best practices in building effective responses to the challenges posed by climate change. In this sense, she highlighted that extreme events, such as the climate disasters that hit Rio Grande do Sul last year, demonstrate the urgency of strengthening local capacities, investing in sustainable territorial planning, and coordinating actions between different levels of government to mitigate risks and protect the most vulnerable populations.
The debates reinforced the urgency of strengthening cooperation between cities and coordination between different levels of government as central elements for the green transition and addressing climate impacts. With its participation, CEBRI reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue among Latin American cities and contributing to the formulation of public policies that reconcile development, democracy, and sustainability, in line with preparations for COP30.
