How Brazilian forest states are leading the global fight against climate change

The Amazon is burning. Millions of hectares of rainforests, wetlands and savannahs are being consumed by fire. The impacts stretch far beyond the forest - livelihoods are lost, lives are at risk, and smoke is choking cities as far away as São Paulo and Buenos Aires. This environmental disaster is driven by a dangerous combination of factors: rising global temperatures caused by climate change, drought fuelled by El Niño, and the lack of resources to combat environmental destruction.

The Brazilian Amazon rainforest stores vast amounts of carbon, nurtures biodiversity, and regulates the planet's climate. Yet, as fires, deforestation, and the resulting public health crises escalate, Brazilian states are facing enormous challenges, with limited resources to tackle them.

Amazon states are looking for alternatives to overcome the challenges of mitigating and adapting to climate change. Despite facing significant setbacks, they're rising to the occasion with bold, innovative solutions aimed at not just mitigating the damage but also strengthening conservation strategies and promoting social and economic development.

Here are three of them.

1. Leading the way with carbon finance

Take the state of Pará. As the host of next year's United Nations Climate Change Conference (widely referred to as COP30), Pará is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. The state recently signed a groundbreaking agreement with the Lowering Emissions from Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition for US$180 million in emissions reductions through deforestation and forest degradation projects. This is part of the state's broader REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) initiative, which aligns with some of the world's most rigorous environmental standards such as The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES).

Carbon finance plays a central role here by providing financial incentives to states like Pará for reducing emissions through programs that protect forests. Through agreements like the one with the LEAF Coalition, Pará receives funding for achieving measurable reductions in deforestation and forest degradation. This helps the state not only meet climate goals but also invest in sustainable industries, ensuring long-term economic and environmental benefits. Other Brazilian Amazon states have already tapped similar carbon finance opportunities or are preparing for LEAF, showing how this funding can drive large-scale climate action.

Pará is aiming not only to slash greenhouse gas emissions but is also focused on building sustainable industries around its forests, such as the bioeconomy. Under the Governors' Climate & Forest Task Force, and with support from The Nature Conservancy and the Government of Norway, UNDP helped develop the state's "Amazônia Now " plans to reduce deforestation and build sustainable forest-based value chains. Crucially, Pará is also tackling one of the biggest drivers of deforestation: cattle ranching. By 2026, Pará's governor has pledged that all beef supply chains will be traceable, ensuring they are deforestation-free.

1. Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the forefront of shaping policies

None of these efforts would be complete without the leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. These communities have been safeguarding the Amazon for generations, and now, their role as decision-makers in forest conservation policies is finally being recognized. Several Amazonian states have established secretariats specifically for and led by Indigenous Peoples to ensure that that their voices are heard and that they can actively shape policies around socioeconomic and cultural development.

With a strong focus on respecting collective rights, these communities are shaping Brazil's future of forest conservation. The partnership between state governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities' leaders, and international organizations is proving that sustainable and inclusive solutions are possible.

REDD+ has empowered communities by integrating them into public policy and decision-making, with its focus on social and environmental safeguards. UNDP supports inclusive, equitable and transparent REDD+ jurisdictional programs that respect collective rights through safeguard systems and benefit-sharing strategies.

1. Using data for ensuring accountability

At the heart of the Amazon's fight against deforestation is data - an invaluable tool for tracking, understanding and ultimately mitigating environmental degradation. For decades, Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE) has played a crucial role in monitoring land-use changes, particularly through its satellite systems that provide real-time data on deforestation hotspots, forest degradation and other land-use shifts. This information is essential not only for environmental enforcement but also for shaping climate policies at both local and national levels.

Data doesn't just prove that emissions reductions are happening as a basis for carbon finance; it also helps guide strategic decisions on the ground. With detailed information on where deforestation is occurring, Amazon states can target interventions more effectively, focusing resources on high-risk areas. They can monitor the success of reforestation and conservation projects in real time and adjust strategies based on these insights. For instance, satellite data can reveal whether local communities are adopting sustainable land-use practices or if illegal logging continues in protected areas. Now, with the help of UNDP, Amazonian states are using this data to align with international carbon finance standards, ensuring their emissions reductions meet the highest levels of accountability.

This alignment isn't just about Brazil - it's about showing the world what's possible when local and national efforts work together. By integrating their strategies with Brazil's national climate goals, Amazon states are contributing to the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement, setting an example for other regions facing similar environmental crises.

A global effort for a resilient future

The fires raging in the Amazon are a stark reminder of the urgency of climate action. But the innovative strategies emerging from Brazil's Amazonian states offer hope. By combining high-integrity finance, deep respect for Indigenous Peoples' and local communities' knowledge and rights, data and accountability, these states are leading the way in protecting one of the planet's most valuable resources.

The world is watching, and the collaboration between local, national and international partners shows that transformative change is possible. Together, we can invest in a more resilient planet - for the Amazon, Brazil and future generations.