Drivers and barriers to climate actions in global South cities: evidence from Recife − Brazil

Climate action plans literature has focused on Global North cities, revealing a research gap regarding the Global South. This paper aims to discuss climate action plans and the main drivers and barriers to their implementation in Recife, Brazil. Multiple information sources were sought for a case study, including documentary research, literature review, interviews with people involved in the city’s climate governance, and observations of institutional meetings. Results obtained by triangulation and content analysis techniques indicate that Recife’s mitigation agenda has preceded the adaptation one, which has not been advanced satisfactorily. Recife has implemented stationary energy, transport and urban mobility, and waste and sanitation mitigation actions. It has also established climate adaptation actions, particularly in engineering and the built environment, nature-based solutions, education, and information. However, it remains at the early stages of developing technological, services, and economic actions to promote climate adaptation. The drivers identified include climate leadership commitment, transnational city network membership, and supportive political and legal context, which adhere to previous studies’ findings, and exposure and vulnerability in the context of climate risks, in contrast to the results of investigations in European cities. Limited multilevel climate governance and power and autonomy restrictions were considered barriers. However, Recife addresses the key barrier of access to funding for climate action. This article provides insights to scholars and local policymakers on low-carbon and climate-resilient strategies and some suggestions that can assist cities in adopting climate action plans, particularly in developing or less developed countries.