ICCI took part in an event that put the Caatinga at the center of the global climate debate

Photo: Beto Figueiroa

ICCI took part in the Caatinga Climate Week, held from 1 to 4 October in Pernambuco. In a context where the climate crisis is intensifying its impact on Brazil’s most vulnerable regions, including the semi-arid Northeast and the Caatinga biome, the event set out to place the biome at the center of global climate discussions.

Organized by Centro Sabiá and Instituto Socioambiental (ISA), the event brought together local leaders, traditional communities, civil society organizations, and experts from across Brazil to share knowledge and experiences, raise the profile of a uniquely Brazilian biome, and emphasize solutions grounded in community-based expertise.

ICCI team members Mathaus Torres and Beatriz Amparo. Photo: Beto Figueiroa

Throughout the week, ICCI team members Beatriz Amparo and Mathaus Torres visited cities such as Caruaru, Vertentes, Pesqueira, Caetés, and Garanhuns, meeting with local projects, residents’ and producers’ associations, and a range of initiatives, including one led by “quilombola” women committed to producing healthy food.

In Caetés, a visit to a wind complex offered an opportunity to learn about “Escola dos Ventos”, an initiative helping the community build resilience against the social and environmental impacts of turbine installations. The ICCI team also joined a plenary session at Vale do Catimbau National Park, Brazil’s second-largest archaeological site.

Photo: Arthur de Souza

During the activities, discussions reinforced the importance of approaching climate adaptation and resilience from the perspective of those who live in the territory and their experience of coexisting with the droughts that affect the biome each year. Concrete examples of this approach come from initiatives such as the “Articulação do Semiárido”, which created systems to capture and store rainwater, ensuring local communities have water for their homes, crops, and animals.

Another highlight of the event was the discussion on the role of the Caatinga in carbon capture and sequestration, drawing attention to the urgency of preserving the biome. The local expression “recaatingar” reflects a call to restore degraded areas and create mechanisms that ensure more effective conservation efforts.

Climate discussions emphasize that people must be at the heart of mitigation and adaptation efforts. In the Caatinga and the semi-arid Northeast, ICCI sees this principle in action. In these territories, local communities are leading tangible responses, building solutions and adaptation strategies that demonstrate innovation and resilience in a region still largely absent from mainstream climate debates.

The first Caatinga Climate Week brought this vision to life and celebrated the strength of those who call the biome home, helping to put the Caatinga at the heart of the global climate conversation.