Amazon Countries

The Amazon biome, one of the world’s most critical ecosystems, faces increasing threats from deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events are accelerating environmental degradation, pushing the region closer to an irreversible tipping point. If the Amazon reaches this threshold, it could lose its ability to regulate climate patterns, with devastating consequences not only for the region but for the entire planet.

At the same time, the majority of the Amazon’s 50 million inhabitants now live in cities, where rapid and unplanned urban expansion is compounding environmental risks. Many urban areas struggle with inadequate infrastructure, weak governance, and limited resources, leaving them highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters such as floods, heatwaves, and water shortages. Without urgent intervention, both the natural environment and the communities that depend on it will face increasingly severe consequences.

Building resilient Amazonian cities is crucial to reversing this trajectory. Strengthening their capacity to adapt to climate change, implement sustainable urban development, and protect the biome is not only a regional necessity but a global imperative.

The Amazon Cities Forum is built on the recognition that urban centres play a fundamental role in protecting the Amazon biome. Its main objective is to develop a collective, long-term strategy for compact, efficient, green, and resilient Amazonian cities. Designed to transcend national borders, this strategy is led by local leaders from the eight countries in the region, ensuring alignment with the specific needs and realities of their communities. At the same time, it is supported by national governments and integrated into global frameworks, promoting multilevel cooperation for effective implementation.

With COP30 set to take place in an Amazonian city for the first time in 2025, the Forum aims to present an initial version of this strategy at the conference, engaging key global actors in its implementation. To meet this objective within a short timeframe, the Forum focuses on three key areas: strengthening the institutional, technical, and financial capacities of Amazonian cities through knowledge exchange and resource mobilization; documenting and sharing successful examples of sustainable urban development; and fostering new solutions to address the region’s climate challenges.

By structuring its work around these priorities, the Forum seeks to position Amazonian cities as central actors in global climate action, ensuring they are equipped to showcase their shared strategy and progress at COP30.

The creation of the Amazon Cities Forum represents a milestone in regional cooperation, serving as the first city-led initiative to bring together representatives from across the Amazon in developing a long-term strategy for sustainable urbanization. By fostering collaboration and shared action, the Forum ensures that urban centres play an active role in protecting the rainforest while building a sustainable and resilient future for the millions who depend on it.

By consolidating knowledge and fostering multi-level coordination, the Forum serves as a dynamic platform to confront the unique challenges faced by Amazonian cities head-on. Its official recognition by the Presidents of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) and its inclusion in MINURVI’s inaugural permanent working group underline its vital role in shaping urban policies for the region.

Beyond governance, the Forum has catalysed multisectoral collaboration, driving various organizations to pool their resources, expertise, and efforts toward a unified vision for sustainable development.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research institutes, and specialists focused on Amazonian and urban issues have been instrumental in this initiative, as members of the Forum’s Technical Advisory Council.

This powerful coalition enhances knowledge exchange and accelerates international co-investment, positioning the Amazon as a central hub for global and regional partnerships dedicated to sustainable urban transformation.

The Forum’s influence is already making waves on the international stage. At COP28, it provided a prominent platform for Amazonian perspectives, and with an ambitious work plan, it is set to amplify these voices even further at COP30.

By establishing a common agenda, this initiative guarantees that the outcomes of the conference resonate far beyond Belém, effectively representing the collective interests of all Amazonian cities and solidifying their significant role in global climate action. Beyond immediate challenges, this initiative contributes to the long-term sustainability and resilience of cities across the Amazon region.