Fapesp

FAPESP and the Sustainable Development Goals

News

Research funded by FAPESP aligned with the SDGs

News

Research funded by FAPESP aligned with the SDGs

The temperature in the city of São Paulo has risen more than the global average
SDG 11, SDG 13
The temperature in the city of São Paulo has risen more than the global average

The replacement of vegetation with materials such as asphalt, concrete, and masonry exacerbates warming, says a researcher from the University of São Paulo at an event organized by FAPESP and the NWO.


The temperature in the city of São Paulo has risen more than the global average
SDG 11, SDG 13
The temperature in the city of São Paulo has risen more than the global average

The replacement of vegetation with materials such as asphalt, concrete, and masonry exacerbates warming, says a researcher from the University of São Paulo at an event organized by FAPESP and the NWO.


Longer droughts and changes in rainfall are already occurring in the Amazon, research indicates
SDG 13
Longer droughts and changes in rainfall are already occurring in the Amazon, research indicates

Recently published studies led by Brazilian scientists indicate an extension of the dry season from four to six months and an increase in the water deficit of more than 150 millimeters. These studies serve as a warning for 2026 and 2027, when a “super El Niño” is forecast.


Longer droughts and changes in rainfall are already occurring in the Amazon, research indicates
SDG 13
Longer droughts and changes in rainfall are already occurring in the Amazon, research indicates

Recently published studies led by Brazilian scientists indicate an extension of the dry season from four to six months and an increase in the water deficit of more than 150 millimeters. These studies serve as a warning for 2026 and 2027, when a “super El Niño” is forecast.


Study clarifies conditions for amphibian species richness on marine islands
SDG 15
Study clarifies conditions for amphibian species richness on marine islands

Analysis of data from over 5,000 territories and 1,924 species of toads and frogs shows that two of the main theories about the biodiversity of plants, birds, and mammals in these habitats do not explain the richness of anuran amphibians on their own.


Study clarifies conditions for amphibian species richness on marine islands
SDG 15
Study clarifies conditions for amphibian species richness on marine islands

Analysis of data from over 5,000 territories and 1,924 species of toads and frogs shows that two of the main theories about the biodiversity of plants, birds, and mammals in these habitats do not explain the richness of anuran amphibians on their own.


Researchers map initiatives in the Amazon that inspire the future of innovation
SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 14, SDG 15
Researchers map initiatives in the Amazon that inspire the future of innovation

A scientific mission to the region by a FAPESP-supported RIDC shows how integrating deep tech with local knowledge can help regenerate ecosystems and produce global solutions.


Researchers map initiatives in the Amazon that inspire the future of innovation
SDG 9, SDG 11, SDG 12, SDG 14, SDG 15
Researchers map initiatives in the Amazon that inspire the future of innovation

A scientific mission to the region by a FAPESP-supported RIDC shows how integrating deep tech with local knowledge can help regenerate ecosystems and produce global solutions.


Fat and muscle mass help prolong the life of patients with head and neck cancer
SDG 3
Fat and muscle mass help prolong the life of patients with head and neck cancer

Two unprecedented studies indicate that early nutritional monitoring can directly impact patient survival.


Fat and muscle mass help prolong the life of patients with head and neck cancer
SDG 3
Fat and muscle mass help prolong the life of patients with head and neck cancer

Two unprecedented studies indicate that early nutritional monitoring can directly impact patient survival.


Extreme weather events threaten river ecosystems
SDG 13, SDG 14
Extreme weather events threaten river ecosystems

Research indicates that rivers in different regions of the planet are undergoing profound transformations that exceed their capacity for resilience.


Scientists discover how a father’s obesity affects his children’s metabolism
SDG 3
Scientists discover how a father’s obesity affects his children’s metabolism

Experiments with rodents show that metabolic dysfunction is “transmitted” to offspring through molecules present in sperm, causing them to become pre-diabetic. This phenomenon is reversible through weight loss before conception.


The duration of depression may influence how severely the disease alters the brain
SDG 3
The duration of depression may influence how severely the disease alters the brain

Researchers from the universities of São Paulo and Oxford show that the duration of the disorder and severity of symptoms are associated with differences in functional brain connections, which may pave the way for personalized treatments.


Research outlines strategy to protect Amazonian cocoa against witches’ broom
SDG 2
Research outlines strategy to protect Amazonian cocoa against witches’ broom

The study identified cultivars that maintain high productivity and resilience against attacks from the disease, paving the way for more sustainable cultivation in the region


South American Indigenous peoples are diverse and descend from a third wave of migration
SDG 15
South American Indigenous peoples are diverse and descend from a third wave of migration

A FAPESP-funded study using whole-genome data from across the continent tells a more detailed story of its settlement. The study was featured on the cover of Nature.


Sabiá virus has been circulating in Brazil for 142 years and mutating, study finds
SDG 3
Sabiá virus has been circulating in Brazil for 142 years and mutating, study finds

Researchers at a FAPESP-supported center developed a new method and identified the infection in two patients who died from acute hemorrhagic and neurological syndrome in São Paulo in 2019 and 2020.


Creatine improves physical performance but does not necessarily reduce inflammation
SDG 3
Creatine improves physical performance but does not necessarily reduce inflammation

Despite its popularity, researchers at São Paulo State University found no significant effects on inflammatory markers in the body after reviewing studies on the supplement.


RCGI launches carbon credit registry with scientific rigor
SDG 13
RCGI launches carbon credit registry with scientific rigor

Initiative combines validation with a mandatory fund that transforms credits into investments for science and society.


Sustainable electrosynthesis enables production of amines directly from airborne nitrogen
SDG 9, SDG 12
Sustainable electrosynthesis enables production of amines directly from airborne nitrogen

Research conducted by a FAPESP-supported center paves the way for producing chemical inputs widely used in industry, such as in medicines and cosmetics, where they act as active ingredients or stabilizers.


Sustainable electrosynthesis enables production of amines directly from airborne nitrogen
SDG 9, SDG 12
Sustainable electrosynthesis enables production of amines directly from airborne nitrogen

Research conducted by a FAPESP-supported center paves the way for producing chemical inputs widely used in industry, such as in medicines and cosmetics, where they act as active ingredients or stabilizers.


Basic education is making progress, but structural inequalities pose barriers, says Ivan Siqueira
SDG 4
Basic education is making progress, but structural inequalities pose barriers, says Ivan Siqueira

The assessment was made by the professor from the Federal University of Bahia during the 2nd FAPESP 2026 Conference. He also discussed the limitations of the current model, the need for objective criteria in educational policies, and the impact of artificial intelligence on teaching.


Even at low concentrations in the air, particulate matter increases hospitalizations for kidney disease
SDG 3
Even at low concentrations in the air, particulate matter increases hospitalizations for kidney disease

In ten years, levels of this type of pollution in São Paulo, Brazil, reached more than four times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization.


Biodegradable sensors attached to plants detect pesticides in three minutes
SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 9, SDG 12
Biodegradable sensors attached to plants detect pesticides in three minutes

Made from non-toxic plant-based material, the devices can also monitor biomarkers, diseases, and nutrient levels in plants.


Biodegradable sensors attached to plants detect pesticides in three minutes
SDG 2, SDG 3, SDG 9, SDG 12
Biodegradable sensors attached to plants detect pesticides in three minutes

Made from non-toxic plant-based material, the devices can also monitor biomarkers, diseases, and nutrient levels in plants.


Brazilian technology helps NASA assess health risks for astronauts on mission to the Moon
SDG 9
Brazilian technology helps NASA assess health risks for astronauts on mission to the Moon

The U.S. space agency used a device developed by a startup supported by FAPESP to monitor the sleep patterns, physical activity, and interactions of astronauts on the Artemis 2 mission.


News about research projects funded by FAPESP and articulated with the SDGs: