Christ the Redeemer to Upgrade Escalators and Introduce Rules for Storms and Extreme Heat

ICMBio (the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) and the Rio de Janeiro City Hall signed a cooperation agreement on Wednesday (July 1) under which the municipality will provide conservation, lighting, public order, and security services in Tijuca National Park, the federal park that is home to Christ the Redeemer.

The agreement provides for daily deployment of pairs of municipal guards in heavily visited areas, including Vista Chinesa, Pedra Bonita, Alto Corcovado, and Dona Marta Lookout, as well as patrols against illegal parking on access roads. It also establishes risk protocols for operating the park during extreme weather events, such as heat waves and severe storms.

The Municipal Secretariat for Environment and Climate will monitor vegetation cover and human encroachment, while Geo-Rio (Rio de Janeiro's Geotechnical Institute Foundation) will assess critical hillside areas. The agreement will remain in force for five years, although ICMBio will retain administrative control of the park.

The institute will also announce a construction plan to modernize the escalators leading to Christ the Redeemer, which were inaugurated in 2003 and have never been upgraded, temporarily reducing visitor capacity.

The monument's accessibility came under scrutiny in 2025 after the death of Jorge Alex Duarte, a 54-year-old tourist from southern Brazil who became ill while climbing the staircase. Since then, ICMBio has opened new restrooms, drinking fountains, and a more resilient elevator lobby.

Last year, Brazil's Federal Court ruled that the federal government holds title to the Alto Corcovado area, rejecting claims by the Archdiocesan Curia, which sought ownership of the site. The park welcomed 4.9 million visitors in 2025, making it the country's most visited national park for the 18th consecutive year.

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