On November 17, at the Goeldi Museum in Belém do Pará, FONPLATA led the event Building Resilient Amazonian Cities as part of the official COP30 agenda.

The Bank convened representatives from local governments, financial institutions, and sanitation companies to discuss innovative solutions that strengthen urban resilience in the Amazon in the face of climate change.

The meeting emphasized the importance of integrating sustainable water management, resilient infrastructure, and nature-based solutions as pillars for ensuring water security and improving quality of life in Amazonian cities. FONPLATA presented its experience in financing projects that combine technical innovation, social inclusion, and institutional strengthening for large and small cities in the region.

The event was moderated by Eliana Dam, FONPLATA’s Vice President of Operations and Countries, with opening remarks by Igor Normando, Mayor of Belem. The program included the launch of the publication Sanitation and Climate: Priority Issues for the Global Agenda by Beatriz Azevedo, Executive Director of Aba Climate Solutions, followed by a debate with leading figures in the sector.

Panelists underscored the need for multidisciplinary, integrated, and place-based approaches:

Sergio Antonio Gonçalves, Executive Director of the Brazilian Association of State Sanitation Companies (AESBE), noted: “It is not pure engineering that will solve the sanitation problem in the Amazon. We need creativity and multidisciplinary collaborations.”

Juliana Almeida, Senior Specialist at the IDB's Office of the Special Advisor on Climate Change, underscored: “The Amazon is more than just Brazil; it includes Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Suriname, and Venezuela. Development is not just about concrete works; we have to use nature-based solutions because they are more resilient.”

Tatiana Barbosa, Coordinator of PRODESAN PARÁ, stressed: “We must seek solutions that are not only environmentally viable, but also socially and economically viable so that the improvement is comprehensive.”

André Facó, President of AEGEA – Águas do Pará, stated: “Talking about sanitation means talking about climate, talking about people, talking about forests. The Amazon’s water system is more than just the water that flows through its rivers; the water cycle also includes clouds and rainfall, which must also be protected and maintained.”

As a result, practical recommendations to strengthen urban climate resilience in the Amazon, with potential for replication in other vulnerable regions, were formulated. Strategic alliances were also consolidated among governments, development banks, and sanitation sector actors to finance and implement adaptation solutions.

This event created a new space for dialogue to continue offering solutions that meet the Amazonian agenda, reaffirming FONPLATA's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusion in building more resilient cities in the region.

17/11/25