Urban green infrastructure and rural resilience projects address climate risks

Urban planning initiatives in Brazil and infrastructure improvements in Portugal are targeting climate vulnerability. In Pernambuco, Brazil, data from the 2022 Census reveals a significant lack of urban tree cover. In the Recife Metropolitan Region, approximately 56.95% of urban residents—over 2.1 million people—live on streets without trees. This deficit is linked to rising health risks; a Climate Impact Lab report estimates that heat-related deaths in Pernambuco could increase by 750 by February 2027.

In Portugal, the “Restabelecimento funcional de percursos delimitados pelo rio Mondego, rio Velho e Vala Real” project aims to enhance the resilience of the Mondego Valley. The €2.073 million initiative will restore 21.5 km of rural paths, improving drainage, bridges, and accessibility to agricultural sites. The project, funded by the Environmental Fund, the Portuguese Environment Agency, and the Municipality of Coimbra, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027 and seeks to support local agriculture and agrotourism.