Mexico is a vast and one of the most biodiverse countries with a complex social structure, which is why the country recognizes the need to promote vertically and comprehensively work among the different levels of government. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the municipal conditions in order to identify areas of opportunity for their contribution to the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Under the project VICLIM, an independent analysis on the conditions of the local governments of Mexico has been developed; a study that offers a view of the framework conditions of policy, governance and funding sources of the municipalities in terms of mitigation. In addition, the study allows to identify possible future collaboration opportunities betweenDeutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Cooperation for Sustainable Development) and the federal government of Mexico.
In the first chapter, the analysis contextualizes the international and national framework for the mitigation of pollutants and greenhouse gases (P&GHG) and addresses the role of municipal governments to contribute to Mexico’s NDC. Subsequently, in its second chapter, it details the public policy and governance structure regarding climate change in Mexico focusing on municipalities. In the third section, the analysis describes the climate policy at municipal level, which details climate change management, municipal climate action and energy management plans, as well as their challenges, and the creation of intermunicipalities as a way of local organization to deal with environmental problems. Finally, the fourth chapter delves into the issue of funding focused on mitigation actions at the local level , exposing the municipalities alternatives to access public financial resources, the obstacles they face and the areas of opportunity for these barriers.
Some of the areas of opportunity that the analysis identifies in climate policy at the municipal level are: lack of knowledge about climate change in municipalities; limited budget for the preparation of the Municipal Climate Action Programs (MCCP); lack of coordination by the federation for a general structuring of the MCCP, among others. In the case of financing, among the challenges mentioned in the analysis are the impossibility of applying the funds directly or the complex processes of calls.
Additionally, based on the study on the equivalence between NKI instruments and existing programs in Mexico, the analysis mentions the financing programs that the NKI had in 2017-2018 and compares them with the programs that the federal government of Mexico has. In this part, the program, modality, support characteristics, application processes, key actors and success stories are described.
In order for Mexico to fulfill its international commitments and manage to implement mitigation actions of P&GHG, Germany through the GIZ, has collaborated to strengthen and develop capacities. GIZ has also provided technical advice and promoted the implementation of climate protection policy. This analysis is part of the path to share knowledge and identify areas for improvement and future collaboration.