Brazilian and international experts gathered at the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI) headquarters on Thursday (February 13) to exchange experiences on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and climate resilience. The event formalized the partnership between CEBRI and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by representatives of both institutions.

The institutional opening was led by Teresa Rossi, Deputy Director of Partnerships and International Cooperation at CEBRI, and David Milestone, Executive Director of the Americas Program at TBI. The meeting brought together policymakers, experts, and civil society representatives to discuss international best practices in artificial intelligence for public service delivery, digital government transformation, and climate adaptation strategies.

Keynote speakers included Mauricio Lyrio, Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Pedro Vormittag, Coordinator of International Relations at the Rio de Janeiro City Hall.

The panel "Delivering Adaptation and Resilience for Climate Change: From Global Ambition to Local Implementation," moderated by Maria Netto, Senior Fellow at CEBRI and Executive Director at the Climate and Society Institute (iCS), explored how governments and civil society can tackle the climate crisis by exchanging best practices and adapting them to local realities. The discussion featured Lindy Fursman, Director of Climate and Energy Policy at TBI; Tatiana Castelo Branco, Climate Change Coordinator at the Municipal Secretariat for Environment and Climate of Rio de Janeiro; and Marta Bandeira, Climate Departament Manager of the National Development Bank (BNDES).

The second panel, "Delivering a Sovereign, Responsible, and Inclusive Digital Transformation in the Public Sector: Challenges and Opportunities," addressed strategies for integrating artificial intelligence and digital transformation into public policies, with a particular focus on subnational initiatives. Moderated by Francisco Gaetani, Senior Fellow at CEBRI and Special Secretary for State Transformation at the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services, the panel featured Tatiana Roque, Secretary for Science, Technology, and Innovation of Rio de Janeiro; Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former Minister of Electronics, Information Technology, and Entrepreneurship of India; and Rishon Chimboza, Special Advisor for African Investment and Global Engagement at TBI.

CEBRI, Brazil's leading independent think tank on international relations, has played a key role in shaping the country's global agenda for over 20 years. Founded in 2016 by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, TBI works with political leaders in over 40 countries, driving change through strategic policy consulting, implementation support, and the promotion of technology-driven solutions.

In a pivotal year for Brazil's global influence, with the presidency of COP30 and the BRICS+ Summit, the event reinforced the importance of subnational initiatives in turning global commitments into concrete actions for society.

Through this partnership, CEBRI and TBI will continue convening a global network of thought leaders, bringing practical, forward-thinking solutions to some of the world’s most pressing policy challenges.