Rio to Host Inaugural Climate Action Week Ahead of COP30 in 2025

Rio de Janeiro is set to host the first-ever Rio Climate Action Week (RCAW) in 2025, an independent initiative supporting Brazil’s COP30 Presidency and in partnership with London Climate Action Week. Modeled after London’s 2019 launch, RCAW joins a growing network of city-based climate action weeks worldwide, including Auckland, Bangkok, Dublin, Shanghai, and Sydney.

With Brazil preparing to host COP30 in Belém in November 2025, RCAW aims to amplify collective approaches to climate action—reflecting the Brazilian concept of mutirão, or joint effort. The week-long programme will bring together governments, businesses, investors, civil society, and cultural institutions to showcase solutions, share ideas, and build resilience.

A Platform for Action
RCAW is designed as a multi-annual event aligned with COP30’s six-themed Action Agenda, offering physical hubs across Rio for debates, workshops, and exhibitions on innovation, sustainable development, arts, and culture. Participation is open to a wide spectrum of stakeholders, from local communities to global institutions.

Natalia Oliveira, Regional Lead — LatAm at the Global Renewables Alliance, said, “With Brazil at the center of global attention as COP30 host, RCAW underscores the region’s relevance in shaping solutions with international impact.”

Linking RCAW to COP30
The inaugural RCAW programme is structured around COP30’s six priority areas:

1. Transitioning Energy, Industry, and Transport – Shifting from fossil fuels to renewables, sustainable industrial practices, and cleaner transportation.

2. Stewarding Forests, Oceans, and Biodiversity – Protecting ecosystems, combating deforestation, and conserving marine life.

3. Transforming Agriculture and Food Systems – Promoting sustainable farming, reducing food waste, and ensuring food security.

4. Building Resilience for Cities, Infrastructure, and Water – Developing climate-resilient urban spaces and managing water resources.

5. Fostering Human and Social Development – Ensuring a just transition to a low-carbon future and promoting social well-being.

6. Unleashing Enablers and Accelerators – Mobilising finance, technology, and capacity for climate action.

Climate Goals and Collaboration
RCAW will support Brazil’s global climate ambitions, addressing finance gaps, fostering public-private partnerships, and creating a city-wide “Climate Cluster” of local leaders. It also seeks to expand engagement through partnerships with other Brazilian cities, the global Brazilian diaspora, and international climate action weeks.

Roberta Cox, COP30 Director at the Global Wind Energy Council, highlighted energy access as a key discussion point: “During RCAW, we will debate energy poverty and showcase replicable solutions.”

Building on Brazil’s Legacy
From the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to COP30 in 2025, Brazil has played a pivotal role in shaping global climate diplomacy. RCAW builds on this legacy, providing a solutions-driven platform that strengthens commitments under the Paris Agreement.

By mobilising whole-of-society climate action, RCAW 2025 will demonstrate the power of cities and communities in driving ambitious, just, and collective solutions for planetary well-being.