As the world converges on Belém, Brazil for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), host nation ambitions for urban climate resilience are coming into sharp relief.

In that setting, the Ministry of Cities of Brazil has unveiled its new AdaptAÇÃO (AdaptACTION) initiative: a major push to bolster resilience in vulnerable municipalities and ensure cities are neither ignored nor overwhelmed as climate risks mount. 

With an estimated 87.4 % of Brazil’s population living in urban areas, the country faces immediate consequences from heatwaves, flooding, rising sea levels and drought — and data underscore the urgency. Between 1991 and 2024, climate-related disasters affected 92 % of Brazilian municipalities, impacting around 130 million residents and causing multibillion-dollar losses. In this context, adaptation is no longer future-tense: it is happening now.

At COP30, Brazil will present AdaptAÇÃO as a centerpiece of its urban-adaptation agenda. The initiative will initially include at least 50 vulnerable municipalities, with plans to expand to another 90. 

National Secretary for Urban and Metropolitan Development, Carlos Tomé Júnior, framed the initiative this way: “AdaptAÇÃO (AdaptACTION) demonstrates that Brazil is ready to integrate science, planning, and social participation into a robust adaptation policy capable of strengthening our cities in the face of the climate crisis.”  

He also stated: “Urban adaptation must be recognized as a foundational pillar of Brazil’s national urban policy. Cities are the primary arenas where the climate crisis unfolds - and it is within them that transformative action must be prioritized.”

What the Program Will Do

AdaptAÇÃO is not just another program of intent - it brings technical, structural and governance measures into play:

• The Ministry will provide specialist technical assistance to help municipalities revise urban-planning instruments and embed climate adaptation into land-use decisions.
  
  
• A collaborative governance model will bring together federal actors, universities, research institutes and civil society. Core to that model is the AIPUAC Network (Assessment of Urban Policy Instruments and Climate Adaptation), featuring 20 regional hubs to link academic/scientific knowledge with municipal-level needs.
  
  
• On-the-ground solutions include: sustainable drainage systems; regeneration of vulnerable zones; regulation of high-risk settlements; and incorporation of climate-vulnerability indicators into municipal master plans - with a special emphasis on socially-marginalized groups. 
  
  
• Aligning with Brazil’s Climate Plan and Multi-Year Federal Plan (2024–2027), the project aims to embed adaptation into the core of urban and territorial policy. 

Brazil’s choice to emphasize urban adaptation, particularly via municipal-level action, signals a broader shift. COP30 isn't only about national targets and forests - it’s increasingly about cities, infrastructure, and real-life resilience. For example:

• The global narrative entering COP30 includes a stronger focus on adaptation finance, with Brazil pushing for cities and sub-national actors to be included in climate targets and funding.
  
  
• Geographic risk is real: many Brazilian cities already face compounding pressures from rising heat, heavy rainfall and urban growth. Adaptation isn’t optional. 
  
  
• By showcasing AdaptAÇÃO at COP30, Brazil is positioning itself not just as a host, but a practitioner of multilevel climate action - connecting federal policy, technical support and local implementation.

While the ambition is clear, the path is not without hurdles. Many municipalities, especially smaller or poorer ones, lack the technical staff, data systems or institutional frameworks to implement advanced adaptation measures. Global adaptation funding remains far short of need. Brazil has signaled ambitions in this space, but mechanisms to deploy funds locally remain complex.

Embedding climate adaptation into urban master-plans, land-use regulations and local governance means shifting long-standing practices; the nature of “urban adaptation” is often cross-departmental and not silo-friendly. As AdaptAÇÃO emphasizes, climate risk is disproportionately borne by vulnerable social groups - the success of this program will depend on how well social participation and justice are woven into what may otherwise feel like technical fixes.