2025 Reports

Capturing the Land Value to Finance Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Machado, Hannah Arcuschin

This case study examines Belo Horizonte's climate change strategies, which, despite strong plans, face slow implementation and setbacks, notably a 2023 change to the Urban Master Plan. This modification, influenced by the real estate sector, reduces funding for resilient housing in flood- and landslide-prone areas, undermining climate adaptation efforts. The study stresses the importance of land value capture through the Municipal Housing Fund to finance climate resilience projects and urges the reversal of the plan change to protect vulnerable populations. It offers valuable lessons for other cities facing similar challenges.

Keywords: sub-national climate policy, finance, urban master plan, housing resiliency, land value capture