New Study Measures Climate Change Vulnerability in Recife and Fortaleza

During COP26, CAF—development bank of Latin America—presented climate change vulnerability indices and action plans for several cities in Latin America, including Recife and Fortaleza.

The objective of the studies is to identify adaptation measures to address climate change, based on a sectoral and zonal analysis of vulnerability and climate risk, considering the environmental, economic and social dimensions, with a view to strengthening the resilience of cities to extreme natural events caused by climate change.

In the case of Brazil, the mayors of Fortaleza (capital of the state of Ceará) and Recife (capital of the state of Pernambuco) worked very actively to complete the studies that led to the development of the Vulnerability Index, and the results have already been used in devising public policies. The two capitals are located in northeast Brazil.

The Fortaleza Climate Vulnerability Index, completed in 2019, analyzed data on the metropolitan region, with 3.6 million inhabitants. The main risks identified by 2040 include: rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, extreme rainfall and rising sea levels. All these risks directly impact the quality of life in the city. The study also mapped the main risk hotspots in the capital, in order to help authorities focus on adaptation measures to the main problems.

The study for the preparation of the Recife index was also completed in 2019 and focused on the metropolitan region, with 1.6 million inhabitants and six municipalities. The index identified neighborhoods with the highest risk in relation to drought, floods, heat waves, sea level rise, among others, for the year 2040. The measures proposed by the study to help the city adapt to climate change impacts include the development of a Coastal Risk Reduction Plan, monitoring of waste on slopes and floodplains, as well as planning for the expansion of afforestation and the construction of artificial reefs, among others.

Lastly, these vulnerability analyses and plans were carried out with the active participation and consensus of various stakeholders of Recife and Fortaleza, thus seeking to facilitate the understanding of the problem and build a bridge between diagnosis, adaptation measures, planning tools and sources of financing to promote actions to address the challenges of climate change in the urban context.

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