The Federal Government, through the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA), has endorsed the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) to create a Green Room at the UFU Monte Carmelo campus. The proposal to establish this space was approved in the 2024 call for projects, enabling the promotion of environmental education initiatives supported by materials and training provided by the Ministry.
This partnership was made possible through the initiative of the Center for Studies, Research, and Extension in Forest Landscape Planning and Management (NUPLAMFLOR) (@nuplamflor_ufu), linked to the Forest Engineering program offered by the Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ICIAG) at the Monte Carmelo campus (Minas Gerais). The project also received support from UFU’s Sustainability Office.
About the Green Rooms Project
Launched in 2000, the Green Rooms Project was created to meet the demand from institutions seeking environmental education materials from the Ministry of the Environment. Today, there are over 300 Green Rooms across Brazil, serving as multifunctional spaces that democratize access to information and facilitate environmental education activities such as courses, lectures, workshops, events, and meetings.
Green Room "CEFEC - Climate Education Training Center"
The proposal for UFU Monte Carmelo’s participation in the Green Rooms Project was spearheaded by NUPLAMFLOR, under the coordination of Professors Dr. Luciano Cavalcante de Jesus França and Dr. Vicente Toledo Machado de Morais Júnior (ICIAG).
The establishment of this Green Room at UFU Monte Carmelo aims to advance the university’s initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the National Environmental Education Policy (PNEA) (Law No. 9,795, April 27, 1999), and the newly enacted Law No. 14,926 (July 17, 2024), which integrates climate change awareness, biodiversity protection, and socio-environmental disaster risk management into Brazil’s National Environmental Education Policy. This law will also mandate climate education in Brazilian schools starting in 2025.
Currently, the project is volunteer-driven and does not receive direct funding from the Ministry of the Environment. However, the Green Room certification brings significant institutional recognition, facilitating partnerships at local, state, and federal levels, as noted by Professor Vicente.
The fundamental purpose of any Green Room is to democratize environmental information and maximize the impact of distributed materials. These spaces serve not only as hubs for information but also as platforms for critical reflection and action on environmental issues — particularly vital in an era demanding climate change mitigation and adaptation.
