The Role of Banco da Amazônia in Climate Finance in the Northern Region
By Juan Carlos Pereira (CFC-GS/UFPA) Banco da Amazônia (BASA) has established itself as the central pillar of the financial architecture dedicated to the sustainable development of the Legal Amazon, moving beyond its historical role as a development bank to take a leading role in regional climate finance. This transition is taking place at a critical moment, when the preservation of the Amazon biome is inextricably linked to global climate stability. The institution’s operations are grounded in a strategic framework that integrates rigorous financial targets with socio-environmental impact indicators, using the Constitutional Fund for Financing the North (FNO) as the primary mechanism for fostering a low-carbon economy. The Constitutional Fund for Financing the North (FNO) represents the primary economic and financial instrument for implementing climate finance in the Northern Region. Created by the 1988 Constitution, the fund is financed by 0.6% of national revenue from the Income Tax and the IPI, and is administered by Banco da Amazônia under the guidelines of the National Regional Development Policy (PNDR).1 The fund’s area of operation covers the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, and Tocantins, encompassing approximately 45% of Brazilian territory.3 The management of the FNO has evolved to prioritize productive activities with low environmental impact, in line with the Regional Development Plan for the Amazon (PRDA) and the goals of the Federal Government’s Multi-Year Plan (PPA).3 The annual planning process involves the Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR) and SUDAM, ensuring that resources are directed toward priority areas, such as low-income municipalities and border regions.4 In 2023, the Fund consolidated its role in the green agenda: contracts linked to the “Green FNO” reached 76.65% of total operations, with the state of Pará standing out as the leader in both volume and number of contracts.5 This performance demonstrates that sustainability is no longer a niche but the foundation of the regional economy financed by the bank. Banco da Amazônia operates a specialized portfolio of credit lines aimed at promoting sustainable business models. At the heart of this strategy is PRONAF Bioeconomia, designed for family farmers engaged in activities that enhance socio-biodiversity.6 This line of credit finances everything from non-timber forest management to the implementation of agroforestry systems and rural tourism infrastructure.7 For the 2024–2025 period, the PRONAF Bioeconomy program offers highly competitive terms, with loan limits of up to R$ 250,000.00 and repayment terms of up to 20 years, including a grace period of up to 8 years for projects with long maturation periods, such as forestry.7 Interest rates range from 3.00% to 6.00% per year, representing an implicit subsidy for sustainable development compared to market rates.6 The bank’s operations cover various sectors of the green economy, ensuring that the energy transition and environmental preservation are viable for different borrower profiles. 1. FNO Green Energy: Originally launched in 2018, this line focuses on micro and mini renewable energy generation. The goal is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the region, promoting energy self-sufficiency among rural producers and urban businesses.2 2. FNO Green Business Amazon: Aimed at the industrial and services sectors, this program supports the modernization of industrial parks with a focus on energy efficiency, emissions reduction, and solid waste recycling.7 3. FNO Biodiversity and ABC: Focused on low-carbon agriculture and livestock, these programs encourage the restoration of degraded pastures, the planting of commercial forests, and the use of environmental technologies, such as wastewater treatment plants.2 You can read more articles about climate finance on our blog and access financing data on our tracker. Check it out! REFERENCES 1 BANCO DA AMAZÔNIA. Ações e Programas. 2026. Disponível em:https://www.bancoamazonia.com.br/acesso-informacao/acoes-e-programas. Acesso em: 24 abr. 2026. 2 BANCO DA AMAZÔNIA. Sustentabilidade. 2026. Disponível em:https://www.bancoamazonia.com.br/o-banco/sustentabilidade. Acesso em: 24 abr. 2026. 3 BANCO DA AMAZÔNIA. O Papel do Banco da Amazônia no Desenvolvimento Regional. Dialnet, 2026. Disponível em:https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/10219117.pdf. Acesso em: 24 abr. 2026. 4 BRASIL. Ministério do Desenvolvimento Regional. Programação Financeira FNO 2026. Brasília: Portal Gov.br, 2026. Disponível em:https://www.gov.br/mdr/pt-br/assuntos/fundos-regionais-e-incentivos-fiscais/fundos-constitucionais-de-financiamento-fno-fne-e-fco/fundo-constitucional-de-financiamento-do-norte-fno/ProgramaoFinanceiraFNO2026.pdf. Acesso em: 24 abr. 2026. 5 BRASIL. Ministério do Desenvolvimento Regional. Relatório de Resultados e Impactos Exercício 2023. Brasília: Portal Gov.br, 2026. Disponível em:https://www.gov.br/mdr/pt-br/assuntos/fundos-regionais-e-incentivos-fiscais/fundos-constitucionais-de-financiamento-fno-fne-e-fco/fundo-constitucional-de-financiamento-do-norte-fno/RelatrioResultados2023FNO.pdf. Acesso em: 24 abr. 2026. 7 BANCO DA AMAZÔNIA. PRONAF Bioeconomia. 2026. Disponível em:https://www.bancoamazonia.com.br/rural/credito-e-financiamento-agro/pronaf/bioeconomia. Acesso em: 24 abr. 2026. 8 BANCO DA AMAZÔNIA. FNO Amazônia Empresarial Verde. 2026. Disponível em:https://www.bancoamazonia.com.br/linhas-de-fomento/fno/amazonia-empresarial-verde. Acesso em: 24 abr. 2026.
