The Amazon's Last Breath: Can Cities Save Our Planet's Lungs?
Belém, Brazil, November 16, 2025 – Imagine a world where cities don't just coexist with nature, but actively heal it. That's the bold vision on display in Belém, Brazil, where global leaders gathered at Gunnar Vingren Park during COP30 to witness a groundbreaking approach to urban sustainability. But here's where it gets controversial: can cities truly become champions of biodiversity and climate resilience, or is this just another greenwashed promise?
This wasn't your typical park visit. A high-level delegation, including Germany's Minister for the Environment, Carsten Schneider, and Brazil's National Secretary of the Minister of Cities, António José da Costa Silva, came to see firsthand how Belém is transforming itself into a model for Nature-based Solutions (NbS). Gunnar Vingren Park, a sanctuary for precious remnants of the Amazon rainforest, stands as a testament to this effort. Chosen as a priority site through the NBCities project, the park is part of Belém's ambitious 'Polígono dos Parques' initiative, which aims to weave a network of interconnected green spaces throughout the city, bolstering its resilience against climate change.
'The Amazon is the lungs of the world,' Schneider declared, 'and we must protect its last pieces, not just for COP, but for our future.' Da Costa Silva echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to 'integrate the agendas of cities with ecosystems and people' to shield urban areas from the ravages of climate change.
This visit, organized by a coalition of environmental heavyweights including the IUCN, UNEP, ICLEI, and the International Climate Initiative (IKI), wasn't just a photo op. It highlighted the tangible results of the NBCities project, funded by the Global Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Fund. This initiative has empowered Belém to translate global climate goals into local action, demonstrating how international collaboration can drive real change at the city level.
And this is the part most people miss: NBCities didn't just plant trees. It equipped Belém with the tools to thrive. This included capacity building for city officials on NbS and urban planning, a comprehensive Climate Risk and Vulnerabilities Assessment, and an Ecosystem Services Diagnosis. Perhaps most crucially, it provided mentorship for the Polígono dos Parques initiative, connecting five major green areas, including Gunnar Vingren Park, through Ecosystem-based Adaptation and NbS.
While NBCities officially concluded in early 2025, its legacy lives on through Polígono dos Parques. This initiative is scaling up its impact by reducing climate risks, restoring green infrastructure, and fostering inclusive, community-led governance. It's also creating sustainable livelihoods and bioeconomy opportunities for vulnerable populations.
'Now, with a clear nature-based adaptation pathway for Belém, it’s time to turn this knowledge into action,' urged Rodrigo Perpétuo, Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America.
Belém's leadership in urban adaptation is evident in its strategic focus on Gunnar Vingren Park. The park, identified as a priority area in the city's Climate Risk and Vulnerabilities Assessment, plays a vital role in mitigating flooding, coastal erosion, and the urban heat island effect – all pressing concerns in this densely populated city. The Ecosystem Services Diagnosis further underscored the park's importance, highlighting how forests and green spaces regulate the city's climate, improve air quality, and enrich the lives of residents through cultural and recreational opportunities. However, these benefits are not evenly distributed, with many vulnerable areas lacking sufficient green spaces. Even where green oases like Gunnar Vingren Park exist, inadequate infrastructure often limits public access, isolating them from the communities they could serve.
'Belém is an extraordinary city, rich in culture, history, and natural beauty,' proclaimed Mayor Igor Normando. 'For centuries, the Amazon has helped the world breathe – now it is time for the world to help the Amazon survive.' He emphasized the crucial role of COP30 partnerships in revitalizing Gunnar Vingren Park, envisioning it as a global hub for learning about the Amazon's role in climate balance and resilience.
The studies conducted in Belém recommend a multi-pronged approach to adaptation, including afforestation programs, the creation and enhancement of green spaces, and the use of climate-resilient construction materials. Building on these recommendations, the Polígono dos Parques initiative aims not only to restore ecological functions like natural drainage and urban cooling but also to seamlessly integrate parks into the fabric of city life. This involves incorporating renewable energy and sustainable mobility solutions, enhancing green connectivity, and improving infrastructure to ensure equitable access to green spaces for all residents.
Belém's efforts as COP30 host set a powerful precedent for sustainable and inclusive urban development worldwide. They demonstrate how local governments can harness ecosystem-based approaches to enhance resilience, improve quality of life, and protect biodiversity.
Catalytic financing is key to this transformation. The Global EbA Fund plays a pivotal role by supporting NbS implementation and embedding Ecosystem-based Adaptation measures into policies and governance frameworks. This ensures long-term sustainability and empowers communities like Belém to integrate adaptation into their decision-making and budgetary processes.
'Innovative and catalytic funding enables on-the-ground action,' stressed Ali Raza Rizvi of IUCN. 'With creativity, integrated approaches can be developed that benefit climate, nature, and people.' Michael Krause of UNEP highlighted Belém's global significance: 'The city is implementing a package of solutions that could become a model for others worldwide.'
Gabriel Quijandría of IUCN South America emphasized the regional stakes: 'Latin America will be the most urbanized region in the world by 2050. This is where the battle against climate change will be won or lost. Many innovative solutions will emerge from this region, and we hope to apply them globally.'
Since its inception, the Global EbA Fund has supported over 50 projects in 36 countries, strengthening local climate adaptation and biodiversity protection efforts and advancing the Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda. It aligns with the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report and Target 8 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Looking ahead, IUCN, UNEP, and ICLEI are exploring ways to scale the Nature-Based Cities approach in Belém and beyond. By generating replicable evidence of how urban Ecosystem-based Adaptation reduces climate risks, protects ecosystems, improves quality of life, and stimulates local economies, they aim to inspire other cities to embrace nature-based, inclusive, and resilient urban planning. Belém's story proves that cities can be powerful agents of change, leading the way in combining climate action, biodiversity protection, and community well-being – a model for urban resilience that the world desperately needs.
But what do you think? Can cities truly become champions of nature? Is the Polígono dos Parques initiative a blueprint for the future, or just a fleeting experiment? Share your thoughts in the comments below – let's spark a conversation about the future of our urban landscapes and our planet.
