On March 4 and 5, fourteen female Brazilian mayors convened in Brasília (Brazil) for the “Brazilian Mayors at the Vanguard of Climate Action” workshop. These leaders, all committed to local climate action, represent the municipalities of Boa Vista, Brasileia, Sorocaba, Conde, Rio Branco, Monteiro Lobato, Dois Irmãos, Monteiro, Quissamã, Goiás, Vila Nova dos Martírios, São Bento do Una, Vigia da Nazaré and São Cristóvão do Sul.

Brazil already has 210 million inhabitants, of which 86 percent live in cities and urban centers. In such an urban nation, municipalities play a key role in addressing serious national and global problems, including inequality, access to goods and services, and the impacts of climate change. Furthermore, Brazil is a country in which municipalities have significant municipal autonomy, thereby furthering the role that mayors play in development processes.

Today, out of 5,568 municipalities in Brazil, 641 have female leaders. There indicates a clear need to address (1) that these mayors represent an important and powerful block of Brazilian leaders, and (2) that they may be especially well-suited to understand and address the intersection of gender and climate change in Brazil.

In this context, the “Brazilian Mayors at the Vanguard of Climate Action” workshop trained and supported municipalities to participate in the development of greenhouse gas emissions inventories; provided technical support for the implementation of pilot energy projects; and promoted the exchange of good practices between cities in relation to climate and sustainable energy. In addition, municipalities were introduced to, or re-engaged with, the Global Covenant of Mayors; participated in a panel discussion on climate change and gender; and were given the opportunity to discuss commitments and progress made towards sustainable urban development.

During the workshop, the IUC programme and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability delved more deeply into the Global Covenant of Mayors, and signatories’ communication and compliance processes. Municipal representatives reflected on the states of their localities in relation to the initiative’s commitments, and helped to map actors relevant to municipalities achieving their climate action work plans.

Also participating in the event were the Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America, Rodrigo Perpétuo; the Director of the Alziras Institute, Marina Barros; the Director of IUC-LAC, Claudio Acioly Jr.; the European Union Ambassador to Brazil, Ignacio Ybáñez Rubio; and the European Commission Manager for the Foreign Policy Instrument, Lise Pate.

Reflecting on the workshop, Claudio Acioly observed that, “the participating mayors demonstrate great leadership and commitment in the search for sustainable solutions for their cities. Workshops such as this one... seek to reinforce and monitor their work to make their territories healthy living spaces for their citizens.”

This workshop was organised by ICLEI South America and the Alziras Institute. IUC-LAC and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy supported the initiative, helping to promote gender equality and female empowerment.

Header image courtesy of IUC-LAC.