Vanessa Grazziotin, Executive Director of ACTO, is participating in the 2024 World Congress of Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) in São Paulo. Today, she participated in the session “Amazonian Cities: Unique and Irreplaceable,” alongside regional authorities.
She emphasized the need for an integrated vision of the Amazon that transcends national borders to promote effective cooperation among the countries of the Amazon Basin. “We need to talk about the Amazon in an integrated way because we share this natural wealth. No single country can protect such a resource-rich basin alone,” she stressed.
Additionally, Grazziotin addressed the socioeconomic challenges faced by the Amazonian population, which comprises approximately 50 million people. She emphasized that “it is essential to ensure the quality of life for people, promote social inclusion, and value Amazonian products in a sustainable manner.”
In her speech, Grazziotin also highlighted the global importance of the Amazon, stating, “All of us here are fully aware of the role the Amazon region plays for the planet, especially in times of climate change.”
Regarding ACTO, she explained its role as the only international organization headquartered in Brazil, focused on the cooperation and integration of Amazonian countries. The director emphasized the need to strengthen this integration process to implement sustainable development and social inclusion projects, reinforcing the importance of science and innovation in this context.
Grazziotin concluded her participation by mentioning ACTO projects, such as the partnership with the IDB to improve basic sanitation and solid waste management in Amazonian cities, and the creation of an integrated early warning system for floods and droughts.
Today, she participated alongside regional authorities such as Ana Lucia Reis, Mayor of Cobija (Bolivia), Edmilson Rodrigues, Mayor of Belém (Brazil), Hélinah Cardoso, Director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), German Vladimir Chong, Mayor of the Province of Maynas (Peru), Janet Yvone C. Vasquez, Mayor of Coronel Portillo (Pucallpa), and Rodrigo Perpétuo, Executive Secretary of ICLEI South America, among others.
The ICLEI 2024 Congress is a crucial platform for promoting policies that encourage collaboration among local governments, aiming for a more sustainable and resilient future for the Amazon region.
ICLEI is the world’s leading association of local and subnational governments dedicated to sustainable development, bringing together more than 2,500 local and regional governments.
