Thanks to local leadership, an educational center in Barcarena, a city located in the Amazon region – one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in the world – has been built according to the needs of climate adaptation.
It is made with masonry resistant to floods and erosion, roof that moderates extreme heat, solar energy systems and satellite internet. Its students receive education on disasters and environmental management.
Nature unfolds in all its magnificence there, where the Amazon River meets the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. Under the dazzling horizons, however, the threat of climate change looms.
In the municipality of Barcarena, near Belém do Pará, a modest white and blue structure stands on the riverbank, crowned by a triangular roof lined with solar panels.
Many travelers barely notice it, but that building has a remarkable history, one that shows that it is possible to protect children in remote communities from the most severe impacts of the environmental crisis.
Safe and sustainable learning
For the last three years, the Maria Naura Gouvêa Municipal School has been putting into practice one of the central themes of the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30): adaptation to a world increasingly shaped by extreme weather events.
The school is built with masonry resistant to floods and erosion, isolated roof that moderates extreme heat, solar energy systems and satellite internet. And unlike many schools in the region, children have access to drinking water thanks to a 150-meter well drilled on the property.
During his visit, the head of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) described the school as “a guiding beacon”, capable of inspiring adaptation efforts far beyond the Amazon. Kamal Kishore hopes to see at least 100,000 schools like this around the world.
Droughts, erosion and sea level rise
The mayor of Barcarena, Renato Ogawa, explained that the region does not usually experience extreme rains or tides, but faces subtle and silent climatic impacts that interrupt the lives of children.
“The main event is the drought of rivers and streams. One week, students manage to get there by boat; the next, due to tidal variations, they cannot get to school on time and must walk along slopes and freshwater beaches that, due to rising sea levels, have begun to flood, causing erosion. We had to build containment structures to stop this. And if nothing is done, over the years we will need to raise and expand that wall,” he said.
Another challenge driven by rising sea levels is the change in the movement of fish that make up the basis of local diets, as river water becomes increasingly salty.
Elevate local leadership
In recognition of Barcarena’s efforts to face these threats, the United Nations designated the municipality in 2023 as the 25th Resilience Center in the world, and the first in the Amazon region.
The executive director of UN-Habitat, Anaclaudia Rossbach, also joined the visit and highlighted the need for COP30 to raise the voices of local leaders who are promoting strategies that save lives on the ground.
“This COP and this visit helped to draw attention to the needs of people living in cities, here in the jungle and around the world. We must protect people to protect the planet. And another key point is the importance of local governments, action and local leadership,” he said.
He added that recognition alone is not enough; it must be accompanied by “solid and robust mechanisms for implementation.”
“An exception in the Amazon”
The Minister of Cities of Brazil, Jader Filho, who accompanied the delegation, said that leaders such as the mayor of Barcarena must be valued and supported through financial investment.
Filho pointed out that the school “is an exception” and does not reflect the educational reality of the Amazon in general, but “it shows what is possible when financing and political will are aligned.”