Welcome to World Climate Summit: São Paulo
- World Climate Foundation
- 23 hours ago
- 4 min read
Building Partnerships to Accelerate the New Economy
This week, the World Climate Foundation is very happy to welcome leaders from business, finance, government and civil society to the inaugural World Climate Summit: São Paulo, our annual platform for Latin America and the first major milestone in the autumn phase of our global climate and biodiversity roadmap.
Following London, the Summit marks the continuation of a journey that continues through New York, CBD COP17 and COP31 in Antalya – bringing together the people and partnerships that will help accelerate implementation.
Brazil is the natural next step.
As the host of the COP30 negotiations, Brazil has become a central driving force of the economic transition towards a resilient future.
Further, Brazil has established itself as one of the world's leading markets for the transition. With abundant renewable energy, globally significant natural capital, sophisticated financial markets and a strong industrial base, the country offers some of the strongest foundations for building a competitive, resilient and sustainable economy.
At the World Climate Foundation, we are proud of the work our team – led by our Brazil Lead and Chief Impact Officer, Flora Bitancourt – has built across Brazil and Latin America over recent years. Through long-term partnerships with governments, business leaders, investors and international organisations, we have deepened our presence in the region and helped establish one of the leading platforms for connecting public and private actors around implementation.
World Climate Summit: São Paulo is the Next Step in That Journey
Throughout the Summit, senior leaders will come together to launch partnerships, strengthen coalitions, identify investment opportunities and showcase market-led solutions that are already driving industrial transformation across Latin America. The focus is not on discussing the transition, but on bringing together the people who can help deliver it.
As Latin America's financial and industrial capital, São Paulo provides the ideal setting to connect regional leadership with global markets. The city demonstrates how emerging economies can strengthen competitiveness while accelerating investment in energy, industry, infrastructure, food systems, nature and circularity.
These are not isolated initiatives. They form part of a broader movement towards the next economy – where resilience, competitiveness and sustainability reinforce one another through stronger markets and public-private collaboration.
For the World Climate Foundation, São Paulo represents more than the next stop on our global roadmap. It is an opportunity to deepen relationships, build new alliances and strengthen the international partnerships that will continue through New York, Armenia and ultimately COP31.
We look forward to welcoming our partners to São Paulo as together we continue building the next economy.
World Climate Foundation at São Paulo Climate Week
Throughout São Paulo Climate Week, the World Climate Foundation will convene and co-host a series of high-level dialogues.
CAPITAL MOBILISATION
Blended Finance Moves from Ambition to Delivery
The Investment Mobilisation Collaboration Alliance (IMCA), where the World Climate Foundation serves as Secretariat, has launched its latest report on scaling blended finance – highlighting key lessons for the transition.
Delivering the transition will require more than additional capital – it requires investment structures capable of attracting institutional finance at scale.
At COP29, governments committed to mobilising US$1.3 trillion annually for climate action by 2035. Achieving this ambition depends on creating investable opportunities that balance risk, return and long-term resilience.
Blended finance has emerged as one of the most effective mechanisms for unlocking private investment by using catalytic public funding to reduce risk and crowd in significantly larger pools of capital.
One initiative demonstrating this in practice is IMCA.
Since its launch in 2023, IMCA has supported innovative financing mechanisms designed to mobilise investment into emerging markets. One of its first investments – ResponsAbility's Asia Climate Fund – has already mobilised approximately €170 million in private investment as part of a fund approaching €400 million.
Beyond the figures, IMCA's latest report identifies five lessons for scaling blended finance:
Credibility unlocks investment.
Flexible funding structures strengthen investment opportunities.
Simpler blended finance models attract institutional investors.
Better donor coordination accelerates delivery.
Continued support after funding decisions is essential for long-term success.
These lessons reinforce an important message: the transition will be financed not simply through larger funding commitments, but through better-designed investment platforms capable of mobilising institutional capital.
The Road to COP31
World Climate Summit: São Paulo forms part of the World Climate Foundation's global implementation roadmap.
Following London Climate Action Week and the World Climate Sessions in Kumamoto, São Paulo brings together regional and international leaders to advance investment, partnerships and implementation across Latin America.
The journey continues through Climate Week NYC, CBD COP17 in Armenia and finally COP31 in Antalya, with each convening building stronger coalitions and accelerating delivery across sectors.
Together, these milestones demonstrate how regional leadership contributes to global progress – creating continuity between international moments while ensuring implementation continues throughout the year.
Preparing for COP in Antalya, Türkiye
Preparing for COP31 begins long before delegates arrive in Antalya.
Earlier this month, the World Climate Foundation welcomed more than 300 participants to our executive COP31 briefing featuring Sagarika Chatterjee, Director of Finance, Technology and Capacity Building at the Climate High-Level Champions, Emil Majidov, Private Advisor to the COP31 Climate High-Level Champions, together with WCF CEO Jens Nielsen, Chief Impact Officer Flora Bitancourt and Africa Lead Matsi Modise.
The discussion explored how organisations can align with the COP31 Action Agenda, build meaningful partnerships and maximise impact before, during and beyond the conference.
Planning Your COP31 Participation?
Accommodation in Antalya is already in high demand. Secure your stay through the World Climate Foundation accommodation programme.
