BNDES approves financing for a climate resilience project in Santos (Sao Paulo)

Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) has approved financing equivalent to approximately 40 million dollars (200 million Brazilian reais) to strengthen climate resilience in the municipality of Santos, São Paulo. The funds, drawn from the Climate Fund, will be used to implement a climate adaptation investment plan that will directly benefit more than 200,000 people. The project is part of the BNDES Resilient Cities Program, a strategic initiative to mitigate the risks of extreme weather events in vulnerable urban areas.

The investment plan includes a series of structural and urban interventions, with a particular focus on the city’s East Zone, a densely populated area facing recurring flooding and rising sea levels. The works include the modernization of macro- and micro-drainage systems, the upgrading of canals and floodgates, and coastal protection measures. The proposal also stands out for its integration of Nature-based Solutions (NbS), such as the creation of permeable areas and stormwater infiltration spaces to improve water management and the environmental quality of the urban environment.

This operation reinforces BNDES’ commitment to the sustainability and climate adaptation agenda in Brazil, enabling local governments to access specialized financing for critical infrastructure. By combining traditional engineering with ecosystem-based approaches, the project in Santos seeks not only to protect the municipality’s physical heritage and economic activity, but also to improve the safety and quality of life of its inhabitants in the face of the global climate emergency. With this support, the city positions itself as a regional leader in the implementation of integrated urban resilience strategies.