Sustainable Cities in the Amazon: Pathways for Resilient Futures
On the occasion of the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA), the first high-level science initiative dedicated to the Amazon, will launch a Policy Brief titled “Sustainable Cities in the Amazon.” The virtual event aims to foster dialogue on how its policy recommendations can inspire investment in the planning, infrastructure, and development of sustainable cities across the region. The key message is to underscore the role of cities as key drivers for sustainable development, climate resilience, and biocultural conservation in the Amazon.
This new SPA publication highlights that the Amazon has been occupied for at least 14,000 years, with its oldest settlements dating back almost 5,000 years, and its oldest urban complexes at least 2,000. These ancient cities are well-adapted to their environments and offer valuable models for sustainable, climate-resilient urban development in the region.
Today, over 40 million people live in the Amazon biome, with 70% in cities. Most of the cities are small, with nearly 80% of them having fewer than 20,000 people. These urban centers are expanding at a pace faster than national averages, reshaping landscapes and posing new challenges for governance, infrastructure, and social inclusion. At the same time, cities offer opportunities for innovation, resilience, and the co-development of just socio-bioeconomies that align with climate and biodiversity goals.
Ensuring the sustainability of Amazonian cities is essential for a resilient future that integrates social, cultural, and ecological dimensions. “What happens in Amazonian cities matters for the entire planet. Investing in sustainable, inclusive urban pathways is not only a regional priority — it is a global imperative for climate resilience and biodiversity conservation, and to advance a transformative sustainable development in tropical forest countries ,” said Emma Torres, Strategic Coordinator of the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA). The Policy Brief presents a set of key recommendations, including:
Incorporate Indigenous and Local systems of planning, guarantee collective land ownership rights, and support integrated environmental planning for diverse settlement models.
Recognize and support sustainable Amazonian cities as dynamic, often amphibious, agroecological systems and as hubs for pluricultural innovation.
Promote inclusive, decentralized infrastructure and in situ housing upgrades in areas with mitigable risk, while investing in adaptable, multi-scale health, education, and waste management systems.
Establish decentralized, nature-based water and waste management systems and support small- and medium-scale off-grid renewable energy.
Co-design affordable homes inspired by vernacular architecture, using certified and traceable local biomaterials, and standardize norms.
Develop collaborative systems that connect complex financial mechanisms with community projects, leveraging universities as incubators and legal support.
Strengthen cities with organically structured governance aligned with environmental principles and collective efforts toward sustainable urban solutions.
The Policy Brief key messages and recommendations present a roadmap for transforming Amazonian cities into resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban spaces. By launching the publication alongside the Local Leaders Forum — which brings together mayors, governors, and subnational leaders from around the world to advance local climate solutions — the session will situate Amazonian urban sustainability within the global conversation on cities and climate action.
Urban planning can sustain Amazon connectivity, overcome historical inequalities, and foster a new narrative for the region: one in which Amazonian cities become pillars of climate resilience and sustainable development. With COP30 set to begin in Belém just days later, this Policy Brief launch provides a timely opportunity to advance dialogue on urban pathways and their role in mitigating climate change. By placing Amazonian cities at the center of these discussions, the SPA aims to inform and inspire the first Amazonian COP, ensuring that sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient urban development is recognized as essential for the future of the region and the world.
Register to the event: https://spa.eventos.puc-rio.br
