Drivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − Brazil
Abstract Climate action plans literature has focused on Global North cities, revealing a research gap regarding the Global South. This paper aims to discuss climate action plans and the main drivers and barriers to their implementation in Recife, Brazil. Multiple information sources were sought for...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Discover Cities |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00104-z |
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| author | Eduardo Baltar Souza Leão José Célio Silveira Andrade Mariana Ciotta Anna Luisa Abreu Netto Luís Felipe Nascimento Diana Reckien |
| author_facet | Eduardo Baltar Souza Leão José Célio Silveira Andrade Mariana Ciotta Anna Luisa Abreu Netto Luís Felipe Nascimento Diana Reckien |
| author_sort | Eduardo Baltar Souza Leão |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Climate action plans literature has focused on Global North cities, revealing a research gap regarding the Global South. This paper aims to discuss climate action plans and the main drivers and barriers to their implementation in Recife, Brazil. Multiple information sources were sought for a case study, including documentary research, literature review, interviews with people involved in the city’s climate governance, and observations of institutional meetings. Results obtained by triangulation and content analysis techniques indicate that Recife’s mitigation agenda has preceded the adaptation one, which has not been advanced satisfactorily. Recife has implemented stationary energy, transport and urban mobility, and waste and sanitation mitigation actions. It has also established climate adaptation actions, particularly in engineering and the built environment, nature-based solutions, education, and information. However, it remains at the early stages of developing technological, services, and economic actions to promote climate adaptation. The drivers identified include climate leadership commitment, transnational city network membership, and supportive political and legal context, which adhere to previous studies’ findings, and exposure and vulnerability in the context of climate risks, in contrast to the results of investigations in European cities. Limited multilevel climate governance and power and autonomy restrictions were considered barriers. However, Recife addresses the key barrier of access to funding for climate action. This article provides insights to scholars and local policymakers on low-carbon and climate-resilient strategies and some suggestions that can assist cities in adopting climate action plans, particularly in developing or less developed countries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d4694353e09d434a9623ca5b43d97313 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 3004-8311 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
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| series | Discover Cities |
| spelling | doaj-art-d4694353e09d434a9623ca5b43d973132025-08-20T03:04:22ZengSpringerDiscover Cities3004-83112025-08-012112510.1007/s44327-025-00104-zDrivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − BrazilEduardo Baltar Souza Leão0José Célio Silveira Andrade1Mariana Ciotta2Anna Luisa Abreu Netto3Luís Felipe Nascimento4Diana Reckien5Business School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do SulBusiness School, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA)Institute of Energy and Environment, University of São PauloInstitute of Energy and Environment, University of São PauloBusiness School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Rio Grande do SulFaculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Geo-Information Management, University of TwenteAbstract Climate action plans literature has focused on Global North cities, revealing a research gap regarding the Global South. This paper aims to discuss climate action plans and the main drivers and barriers to their implementation in Recife, Brazil. Multiple information sources were sought for a case study, including documentary research, literature review, interviews with people involved in the city’s climate governance, and observations of institutional meetings. Results obtained by triangulation and content analysis techniques indicate that Recife’s mitigation agenda has preceded the adaptation one, which has not been advanced satisfactorily. Recife has implemented stationary energy, transport and urban mobility, and waste and sanitation mitigation actions. It has also established climate adaptation actions, particularly in engineering and the built environment, nature-based solutions, education, and information. However, it remains at the early stages of developing technological, services, and economic actions to promote climate adaptation. The drivers identified include climate leadership commitment, transnational city network membership, and supportive political and legal context, which adhere to previous studies’ findings, and exposure and vulnerability in the context of climate risks, in contrast to the results of investigations in European cities. Limited multilevel climate governance and power and autonomy restrictions were considered barriers. However, Recife addresses the key barrier of access to funding for climate action. This article provides insights to scholars and local policymakers on low-carbon and climate-resilient strategies and some suggestions that can assist cities in adopting climate action plans, particularly in developing or less developed countries.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00104-zDrivers and barriersClimate action plansMitigationAdaptationGlobal south citiesRecife-Brazil |
| spellingShingle | Eduardo Baltar Souza Leão José Célio Silveira Andrade Mariana Ciotta Anna Luisa Abreu Netto Luís Felipe Nascimento Diana Reckien Drivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − Brazil Discover Cities Drivers and barriers Climate action plans Mitigation Adaptation Global south cities Recife-Brazil |
| title | Drivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − Brazil |
| title_full | Drivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Drivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − Brazil |
| title_short | Drivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − Brazil |
| title_sort | drivers and barriers to climate actions in global south cities evidence from recife brazil |
| topic | Drivers and barriers Climate action plans Mitigation Adaptation Global south cities Recife-Brazil |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44327-025-00104-z |
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