Policy Entrepreneurship: Building a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Zone in the Amazon Rainforest

The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative is a global effort to foster international cooperation for accelerating a transition to renewable energy and ending the expansion of coal, oil and gas. It is an important initiative that mainstreams climate equity and justice in its endeavors to phase out fossil fuels and meet the Paris Agreement targets of keeping global temperature warming below 1.5o C. 

The project is focused on the city of Belém in the state of Pará, Brazil. Belém is the gateway to the Amazon region and holds great significance in the local ecology and economy. FFNPT aims to work closely with multiple stakeholders (including government officials, civil society, non-profits, industries, and financial institutions) to endorse/sustain a treaty on fossil fuel phase out and support the city administration with its energy transition. This is a critical initiative given the importance of the Amazon rainforest as a carbon sink that stabilizes regional/global climate cycles. The Capstone team is supporting FFNPT by firstly conducting a rapid review of the organization’s ongoing efforts in the city of Belém. This analysis will provide inputs on key achievements and challenges of FFNPT’s partnerships with local partners and help develop future engagement strategies. Secondly, the team conducted key informant interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders in Belém and Pará to help effectively identify and select endorsement targets for FFNPT. Finally, the team developed an engagement strategy for FFNPT to build effective partnerships and sustain the city’s endorsement for fossil fuel phase out.