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Rio de Janeiro is moving towards a new stage of climate leadership with the creation of the first Low Emission District (LED) in Brazil, an initiative aimed at reducing air pollution and transforming the city centre into a healthier, safer, and more sustainable environment.
The project will connect the northern and southern areas of the city and includes the expansion of green spaces, the creation of cycle lanes, the prioritisation of pedestrian mobility, and a firm commitment to the use of electric vehicles. Its implementation will take place in phases until 2030, covering 2.3 km² of Rio’s historic core.
The Festival Respira Rio, held on 1 November 2025 along Avenida República do Chile, gave citizens the chance to experience for the first time what this new urban model will look like. The avenue, transformed with trees, urban art, green areas, and citizen participation spaces, became a life-size preview of the future Low Emission District (LED), the first of its kind in the country.
The event, organised by Breathe Cities and the Prefeitura do Rio, took place on the eve of the C40 World Mayors Summit and the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, consolidating Rio’s position as an international example of how cities can lead climate solutions at a local level.
Rio is an active member of C40 Cities, a global network of cities committed to reducing emissions and building climate resilience. Cities such as London, Paris, Barcelona, Johannesburg, Melbourne, Tokyo, and Lagos share with Rio a common vision based on data-driven urban policies, technological innovation, and institutional collaboration. The network plays a key role in accelerating initiatives such as the LED, driving the transition towards more sustainable, inclusive, and healthier urban environments.
Rio’s main challenge is to tackle air pollution through accurate and accessible data. Achieving this requires a continuous monitoring network capable of identifying critical areas, assessing public policies, and protecting the most exposed communities.
The city is also advancing with the electrification of public transport, with the first electric buses set to arrive in 2026. The integration of these mobility policies with a robust monitoring network makes the LED a strategic project for urban health.
Within this framework, the need arose to deploy a robust environmental sensor infrastructure that is traceable to international standards and capable of operating in complex urban environments.
“With this initiative, Rio is showing leadership in the fight against air pollution. We are creating the country’s first Low Emission District and expanding air quality monitoring, which will improve the health and quality of life of all Cariocas.”
