Thermal Comfort and Afforestation In Belém: City of Mango Trees and Host Of COP 30
Authors: Patrício Júlio Cezar dos Santos , Araújo Felipe Fonseca , Patrício Roseane Cristina Rodrigues 
Published: February 2025

Objective: The objective of this article is to evaluate the thermal comfort in Belém based on climatic variation and afforestation, considering its relationship with public policies from the administration of Antônio Lemos to the current period. The analysis is based on historical and climatic data, as well as afforestation indicators, and seeks to understand how these policies contribute to urban sustainability and the fulfillment of SDG 11 goals.

Theoretical Framework: The work is based on the concepts of Sustainable Development, with an emphasis on the dynamics of cities and urban management, considering the context of public policies aimed at environmental management. Aspects related to thermal comfort in the face of climatic variations are addressed, as well as the relevance of urban afforestation as a mitigating strategy. The study is set in the context of Belém, the host city of COP 30, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices and integrated urban policies to face contemporary environmental challenges.

Method: The method adopted in the study combines a theoretical and literature review covering physiographic, climatic and historical aspects related to the territorial and urban formation of Belém, with a focus on thermal comfort, climate change, afforestation and the city's green areas. As a complement, tables, charts and graphs are used to analyze data collected from secondary sources, including the Environmental Index Indicators for Brazil's Capitals and the 2010 Municipal Basic Information Survey (Munic), published by the IBGE (2024). In addition, temperature variations in the city are analyzed, based on records from the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET).

Results and Discussion: The results show a variation of 1.96°C in the maximum temperature in Belém between 1970 and 2023, indicating a growing trend of thermal warming. This evolution highlights the need for integrated and effective responses to limit global warming to 1.5°C, through adaptation and mitigation measures. Public policies for sustainable urban planning, expanding green areas and encouraging resilient practices are essential strategies for mitigating the impacts of rising temperatures. This study seeks to contribute to the debate on the challenges and possibilities of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Brazilian urban contexts, especially in cities in the Amazon region.

Research Implications: The thermal rise identified intensifies the impacts on urban thermal comfort, increasing vulnerability to heat waves, health problems and pressure on infrastructure. This reality reinforces the urgency of adaptation and mitigation measures, such as sustainable urban planning, expansion of green areas and resilient practices to contain the effects of warming. Hosting COP 30 in Belém is an opportunity for international projection and a turning point for urban and environmental management, which can catalyze public policies, modernize planning instruments and encourage greater social participation in decisions that affect the population.

Originality/Value: This study contributes to broadening the debate on the challenges and possibilities of implementing the SDGs in Brazilian cities, especially in the Amazon. It highlights the importance of holding COP 30 in Belém, considering sustainable urban development as a collective process that requires collaboration between governments, civil society and international actors, aiming for global goals, quality of life and socio-environmental justice.