The UN reinforces the role of innovation for resilient futures in a workshop at SENAI.

"There is no climate justice without innovation." This was the message left by Perumal Arumugam, manager of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), during the 18th UN Systemic Innovation Workshop - Catalyzing Innovation for Resilient Nature-Based Futures, which took place this Saturday, November 15th, at SENAI Getúlio Vargas, in Belém. An initiative of the United Nations Climate Change Global Innovation Hub (UN GIH), the event was supported by the FIEPA System (Federation of Industries of the State of Pará) and the COP+ Journey, a multi-sectoral movement led by the federation, and brought together international leaders to advance systemic climate and sustainability solutions.

During the opening, Perumal Arumugam, UNFCCC manager, highlighted that the workshop is not just about technology, it's about collaboration. "We want to strengthen transparency, trust, and deliver climate benefits to people. As COP30 progresses, it becomes clear that innovation and technology done with integrity are necessary for social justice," she stated.

The president of FIEPA and the COP+ Journey, Alex Carvalho, stated that the industry in Pará is committed to the innovation journey towards sustainable development. "As a citizen of Belém, born here, I understand the importance of innovation, technology, and integrated systems that contribute to our region. In May 2024, we launched the COP+ Journey movement, and this symbol of 'more' is looking ahead, towards the continuity of what we have already done," he emphasized.

Nitin Arora, leader of the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub, highlighted that innovation must be done systematically and collaboratively. "This workshop is not just about knowledge, it's about collaboration. We are bringing together a group of partners from the public and private sectors and researchers. Our knowledge, creativity, and commitment are what make this happen," she pointed out.

Bringing together experts in Earth observation, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, digital twins, and climate finance policies, the 18th Systemic Innovation Workshop featured panels, plenary sessions, working groups, and project formulation sessions.

The event addressed a broad and strategic agenda, connecting innovation, technology, climate finance, local initiatives, governance, and public policies to strengthen resilient, nature-based futures, with a special focus on the Amazon. Scientists and researchers from the region and around the world discussed community-based actions aimed at sustainability. Bioeconomy initiatives that are transforming Pará into a benchmark in the forest-based economy were discussed, as well as essential technological tools for climate action, such as Earth observation tools, High-Performance Computing, Digital Twins for biodiversity inventories, artificial intelligence, and transparency tools. These technologies are necessary, for example, for controlling deforestation and monitoring the conservation of ecosystems such as forests and mangroves.

Carlo Souza Jr., a researcher at the Institute of Man and Environment of the Amazon - Imazon, presented remote sensing tools developed by the Institute and highlighted the importance of developing cutting-edge research in the region. “The Amazon is a great laboratory, and to understand the Amazon, you have to be here in the Amazon. Several monitoring solutions that we have developed here are already being applied in other regions of the planet; we have already managed to export our technology, and these are technologies linked to the needs of our territory,” he stated.

The panels also discussed the role of education in developing innovation and resilient, nature-based futures, and funding possibilities for developing cutting-edge nature-based technology capabilities.

Next, participants met in working groups to formulate Global Innovation Projects in the following areas: nature-based solutions, including biodiversity; advanced technologies for nature resilience; innovative financing instruments, including carbon markets; energy transition and energy-related innovations; and sustainable mobility. The ideas were discussed and evaluated to ensure their feasibility.

UN Global Innovation Hub for Climate Change

Created during COP26, the UN GIH works to connect scientists, governments, businesses, investors, universities, and social organizations, driving the development and application of technologies, business models, financial instruments, and policy solutions capable of generating large-scale climate impact. The Systemic Innovation Workshops (SIW) are the main focus of this work: 17 editions have already been held in different regions of the world, forming a global network of collaborative solutions and processes.

More than 40 potential international projects have already emerged from previous workshops, consolidating the event as a strategic instrument of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) system to foster initiatives with planetary impact. The initiative mobilizes representatives from governments, development banks, investment funds, academic institutions, accelerators, international agencies, startups, local communities, and indigenous leaders, reinforcing the multidisciplinary and collaborative nature of the global agenda driven by UNGIH.

By bringing the 18th Systemic Innovation Workshop to Belém, UN GIH reaffirms the strategic role of the Amazon in international climate solutions, contributing to strengthening local institutional capacities, supporting innovation networks in tropical forests, and connecting the region to a continuous and growing global process of systemic innovation.

Implementation - The workshop was organized by the UN Global Innovation Hub for Climate Change (UN GIH), supported by the Federation of Industries of the State of Pará (FIEPA), COP+ Journey, National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Guamá Science and Technology Park (PCT Guamá), Institute of Man and Environment of the Amazon (Imazon), Prime Space-as-a-Service, Instituto Bem da Amazônia (IBA), and Temple Comunicação, institutions that work for climate innovation and sustainable development in the Amazon.