Sabiá Center stands out at CBA-19: Brazil’s semi-arid region at the center of global climate adaptation

By Carlos Magno Morais, coordinator of Social Mobilization at Centro Sabiá and Darliton Silvacommunicator for the Sabiá Center

Between May 12 and 16, 2025, Recife hosted the 19th International Conference on Community-Based Adaptation (CBA-19), organized by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). For the first time, the event was held in Latin America, bringing together around 400 participants from different parts of the world to discuss climate adaptation practices led by local communities.

The Sabiá Agroecological Development Centre played an important role as a member of the local organizing committee. The Sabiá team was involved on various fronts of the event, contributing significantly to the success of the conference. One of the most notable contributions was the organization of three field trips, which provided participants with an immersion in agroecological and climate adaptation practices in different biomes in the state of Pernambuco. The visits included experiences in the Semi-arid (Caatinga), the Atlantic Forest (mangrove areas) and urban agriculture initiatives in the Metropolitan Region of Recife. These visits highlighted the diversity and resilience of local communities in the face of climate change.

In partnership with Habitat for Humanity and other civil society organizations, Centro Sabiá contributed to the Climate of Change Festival, which took place on the 14th in the open space of the Cais do Sertão. The aim of the event was to celebrate the creative and transformative power of the peoples of the Caatinga biome. As part of the program for the 19th edition of CBA-19, the festival also brought together art, music, creative economy products and conversation circles, with the aim of inspiring collective climate action and occupying the urban space with culture and resistance.

In addition, the Sabiá Center set up a stand at the event, presenting information materials, books and publications on climate adaptation, highlighting the work done with rural and urban communities. The stand became a meeting point for exchanging experiences and strengthening collaborative networks.

On the last day of the conference, Sabiá promoted the session “Living Semiarid: Community Voices”, which brought together farmers, young people and representatives of traditional communities to share their experiences and strategies for adapting to climate change in dry areas. The session was a powerful space for listening to and valuing local knowledge.

Centro Sabiá’s participation in CBA-19 reinforces the role of civil society organizations from the Brazilian Semi-Arid in building local solutions to the global challenges of climate change.