Yesterday (09), the Municipal Deputy-Secretary of International Affairs of São Paulo, Ambassador Fernando de Mello Barreto, represented Mayor Ricardo Nunes, member of that network´s Administration Council , annual event of the network. A global leader in the strengthening of metropolitan governance, the organisation is dedicated to finding answers to the current and future challenges that metropolitan spaces face. The event occurs, remotelly, on November 8th to 13th, having as its host-city Guangzhou, China, the network’s current president.

Among the representatives, were: the Mayor of Tehran (Iran), Mayor of Rosario (Argentina), Vice-Mayor of Guangzhou (China) and the Head of International Affairs of Montreal (Canada).
The debate was focused on two points: what’s at risk in cities regarding the pandemic and the recovery in order to guarantee a better future, and the main changes (related to decision-making processes, policies or new public services) that the pandemic caused in the cities.

São Paulo believes that, a post-pandemic future, must focus on reduction of social inequities and to an economic recovery that is consistent and sustainable. “The pandemic made it clear that the economic recovery must be sustainable and inclusive - aligned to the 2030 Agenda, to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Decade of Action, that guide the public policies in the municipality”, highlighted the Deputy-Secretary.

In the event, Ambassador Fernando de Mello Barreto also presented the green solutions headed by the city of São Paulo, such as the Municipal Plan of Climate Action (PLANCLIMA), that has as its goal to seek resources nature-based in drainage infrastructure works: “The working principle of PLANCLIMA is to guarantee robust initiatives that could be applied immediately in the city’s management, including all sectors of the municipal administration”.

The City of São Paulo is also committed to invest in the generation and qualification of sustainable jobs, like through the initiative of Hub Green Sampa. According to Ambassador Mello Barreto: “It is the first public initiative that seeks to gather strategic stakeholders from the sustainable technologies for the implementation of a platform that will promote innovative projects of support to green technologies”, he pointed out.

To check the article in Portuguese, click here.