The 10YFP Sustainable Food Systems Programme (SFS Programme) is a global multi-stakeholder initiative to accelerate the shift towards more sustainable food systems, all along the food value chain, from farm to fork. Among its focus themes are the promotion of sustainable diets; the reduction of food losses and waste; and strengthening resilient and diverse food production systems. The SFS Programme promotes activities that fall under these topics, in the areas of awareness raising, capacity development as well as facilitating access to knowledge, information and tools. The SFS Programme is one...[more]

The Bolsa Floresta rewards traditional communities for their commitment to stop deforestation by distributing payments for ecosystem services to families, communities, and family associations. Source: In order to be eligible to receive the grants, families must attend a two-day training programme on environmental awareness and make a zero deforestation commitment. In addition, they must enroll their children in school. They then receive a monthly payment of 50 reais (US$30). Community associations can also receive payments of up to 4000 reais (US$2500) to support legal income generation activ...[more]

Brazil has 159 threatened species in marine landscapes: 98 fish species (19 are endemic), 20 birds, 8 mammals, 5 reptiles and 29 invertebrates (13 are endemic). The National Strategy will identify and propose improvements to the conservation instruments needed to avoid, mitigate and reduce the present and potential threats to these species, such as conservation action plans, guidelines for environmental licensing and monitoring programs. The objective is that by 2020 100% of the threatened species are under protection by at least one conservation instrument. Concerned with the need for a c...[more]

The objective is to define a coastal-marine strategy and programme and establish a Brazilian Blue Fund dedicated to support the implementation of biodiversity conservation measures in Brazilian coastal and marine jurisdictional areas, contributing for, among others, the restoration of overfished and threatened species, the promotion of sustainable practices by artisanal fishermen and other local and traditional communities, the integration of climate change adaptation measures and the restoration of depleted fisheries stocks. Brazil is already taking steps towards a stronger and more compr...[more]

In recent years, two national workshops were held to discuss alternative possible paths towards a Brazilian Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) agenda (UNESCO / IUCN, 2011; Ministr y of the Environment, 2014). Since then, this agenda gained gradual importance among actors in the public sphere and civil society. For this reason, the Inter-ministerial Commission for Marine Resources (CIRM), through its Secretariat (SECIRM), is establishing partnerships to start this intersectoral and intragovernmental dialogue so as to advance a coherent MSP agenda. Also noteworthy are the Coastal Ecological Economic ...[more]

Marine litter is one of the greatest threats to marine ecosystems and their environmental services. In addition to coordinated international actions aiming at addressing the problem of marine litter, Brazil has been setting in place policies for the reduction and prevention of solid waste from marine and terrestrial sources. The Plan of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (Upper Southwest Atlantic Region) established in 2001 will be updated. The problem of marine litter is strongly related to the lack of adequate living conditions of vulnerable social...[more]

The development of effective area-based conservation measures in Brazilian marine jurisdictional areas aims to promote sustainable development, improve knowledge and harmonize economic activities with nature conservation. It will support the implementation of sustainable development objectives and goals through nature conservation strategies including: connectivity between coastal and marine ecosystems; strengthening coastal conservation measures and extending these seawards; integrating and strengthening role of local/traditional communities in biodiversity conservation; promoting fisheries s...[more]

Through a practical solution and via successful partnerships, the Eco-oil Programme is a replicable example of cooking oil waste management with impact. Source: The ICLEI Case Study series Municipalities such as Volta Redonda have demonstrated that creativity is fundamental in transforming problems into practical solutions, in a simple and nonexpensive way. The "magical formula" to reduce negative impacts caused by the improper disposal of cooking oil, and to reduce the pollutants that are released into the environment from the large number of diesel run vehicles in the city, can be found in t...[more]

The general objective of the Commission is to promote the effective conservation, management and development of the living marine resources of the area of competence of the Commission, in accordance with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, and address common problems of fisheries management and development faced by members of the Commission. 16 of WECAFC's 35 members are considered small island developing States.

The Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism is an organizational network of tourism stakeholders of the public and private sectors, non-profits, UN agencies and programmes, international organizations and academic institutions. Partner organizations share the common vision and understanding of the goal of "sustainable tourism" and collaborate internationally, regionally or nationally to transform tourism globally. The mission is to transform the way tourism is done worldwide by building partnerships to support the implementation of sustainable tourism practices at destinations through adop...[more]

The IHO capacity building programme seeks to assess and advise on how countries can best meet their international obligations and serve their own best interests by providing appropriate hydrographic and nautical charting services. Such services directly support safety of navigation, safety of life at sea, efficient sea transportation and the wider use of the seas and oceans in a sustainable way, including the protection of the marine environment, coastal zone management, fishing, marine resource exploration and exploitation, maritime boundary delimitation, maritime defence and security, and o...[more]

Brazil has one of the most extensive coastlines in the world, with more than 8,500 km. The Brazilian coast is home to around 26.6% of the countrys population. The use and occupation of coastal areas in an orderly manner represents one of the greatest challenges for environmental management. It is estimated that 40% of the Brazilian coast faces serious erosion problems, caused mainly by anthropic intervention in coastal processes through interferences in the sedimentary balance and urbanization of the border. This scenario, where a complex system of high environmental and economic value is subj...[more]

In 2008 the President initiated Brazil's National Plan on Climate Change. Source: The Brazilian National Plan on Climate Change is an important milestone for the integration and harmonization of public policies, following the general guidelines of the National Policy sent to the National Congress in 2008. The Plan is based on the work of the Interministerial Committee on Climate Change and its Executive Group, established in 2007 to fulfill that purpose, in collaboration with other fora and institutions such as the Brazilian Forum on Climate Change, Interministerial Commission on Global Clim...[more]

The Urban-LEDS Project, funded by the European Comission, supports development and implementation of urban low emissions development strategies (LEDS) to address climate change in partnership between UN-Habitat and ICLEI. The objective of the Project is to enhance the transition to low emission urban development in four emerging economy countries, Brazil, Indonesia, India and South Africa. In each of those countries the project supports two Model Cities, receiving intensive assistance to develop LEDS, plus four to six 'Satellite Cities' that engaged to a lesser degree. A handful of European ci...[more]

In 2009, the Sao Paulo city council approved a law specifying greenhouse gas reduction. The policy aims to reduce Sao Paulo's citywide greenhouse gas emissions by 30% of 2005 levels by 2012. Improvements of the air quality, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are expected. Source: World Resources Institute (2011) A Compilation of Green Economy Policies, Programs, and Initiatives from Around the World. The Green Economy in Practice: Interactive Workshop 1, February 11th, 2011 In 2009, the Sao Paulo city council unanimously approved a law establishing the Municipal Policy for Climate Chang...[more]

The experience of Belo Horizonte Minas Gerais (MG) in drafting laws on the use of solar heaters and its participation in the Sustainable Construction Policies (PoliCS) project demonstrates the role of local governments in promoting renewable energies and sustainable policies. Source: The ICLEI Case Study series As a result of the great number of buildings in the city using solar collector technology to heat up water, Belo Horizonte has become a national reference point. The city is considered to be the national solar energy capital. The Energy Working Group (WG), under the PoliCS project, and...[more]

After Master Plan for Curitiba was adopted in 1968, Brazilian Curitiba city has implemented several innovative systems to create jobs, improve public transportation accessibility, promote housing development, and improve waste management. Source: World Resources Institute (2011) A Compilation of Green Economy Policies, Programs, and Initiatives from Around the World. The Green Economy in Practice: Interactive Workshop 1, February 11th, 2011 Curitiba, located in Parana State, Brazil, has implemented several innovative systems to create jobs, improve public transportation accessibility, prom...[more]

São Paulo, like many cities around the world, was confronted with a solid waste management issue: the city landfill was releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Source: The ICLEI Case Study series The "Bandeirantes Landfill Gas to Energy Project" (BLFGE) was developed by the City of São Paulo to collect and process biogas from the Bandeirantes Landfill to generate electricity at an on-site power plant. BLFGE was developed in response to a pressing environmental issue that posed a health risk to the local population and needlessly contributed to climate change. It is e...[more]

The City of Betim established the first Renewable Energy Reference Centre (CRER) through the Local Renewable Network in Brazil. Source: The ICLEI Case Study series The main objective of the Renewable Energy Reference Centre (CRER) is to act as a node and driving force for the incorporation of renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) into Betim's municipal development plan. CRER seeks to dispense information and encourage RE and EE solutions to meet the challenge of climate change and energy savings. Since its inception, CRER has served as an important tool to raise local and regional a...[more]