The commitments assumed by Mexico when signing the Paris Agreement imply benefits that go beyond mitigation and adaptation to climate change. The objectives of the sustainable development and climate agenda can only be achieved through implementation at the national level.
In 2015, Mexico committed to meeting the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and aligned its climate objectives with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Although these are separate agendas, the goals of each complement each other. Established by Mexico in 2015, the NDC includes measures to mitigate greenhouse gases and black carbon, and to adapt to the effects of climate change. These actions also generate social, economic and environmental benefits that have positive impacts on other areas of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). That is, the actions established in the NDC are sufficiently broad to generate positive changes in other areas of economic, social and/or environmental development.
To identify the co-benefits of pursuing the goals of the NDC and the 2030 Agenda, the projects Initiative Agenda 2030 (BMZ) and the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance developed a study highlighting the opportunities offered by integrating the implementation of both agendas. In this framework, and in collaboration with the Vertically Integrated Climate Policies (VICLIM) project, the following video was published about the benefits of pursuing both agendas together and the role of subnational governments.
This is a repository of useful and up-to-date information on the states and municipalities of Mexico, in reference to their contributions toward the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the fight against climate change.
In the tool kit, interested readers will be able to consult information on the status of climate policies at the subnational level, access climate training material and learn about specific implementation cases.
Specifically, the tool kit includes the following items:
Documents about the international, national and subnational context of climate change
Documents from the regional workshops, including presentations, success stories and video material covering the following areas:
Design of climate measures
Design of monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems
Generating funds for climate change
Obtaining climate change funds
Each regional workshop report includes the following:
Overall findings and recommendations
Workshop documents
Photo gallery
Video summary
Please note that all documents are available in Spanish only.
I. International and National Context on Climate Change
The FELICITY (Financing Energy for Low-Carbon Investment – Cities Advisory Facility) initiative will provide technical assistance to six pilot projects in Brazil, China and Mexico, aiming at improving capacities for project preparation, strengthening global networks, and increasing access to climate finance at the subnational level. Two out of the six selected projects are in Mexico.
During the first semester of 2018, the identification of urban infrastructure projects with low carbon emissions was conducted in cities in Brazil, China and Mexico. 82 applications were received, adding up to a global cumulative investment volume of 4.2 billion euros, out of which 463.4 million euros are estimated to be climate-investment related.
The sectoral breakdown of applications for the three countries is as follows: solid waste treatment (25%), renewable energies (23%), mobility (16%), energy efficiency (15%) and district energy (10%).
Transport
In Mexico, 43 applications were evaluated according to their level of progress, potential of replicability and of mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions.
FELICITY, 2018
In the month of July, the FELICITY Guidance Group selected six projects that will receive technical assistance to consolidate their development and climate finance in cities of Brazil, China and Mexico.
Waste to energy
The two selected projects in Mexico are:
• Management and Energetic Use of Urban Waste in Naucalpan, State of Mexico.
• Energetic Transition for Public Buildings in Mexico City.
Energy Efficiency
The technical assistance to be provided by FELICITY consists of the following activities:
• Provision of tools and strategies for the integration of key stakeholders in the development and implementation of the project.
• Review of the available documentation (environmental, financial and technical studies) that integrate the preparation of the project, and, where required, their enhancement to comply with the standards established by climate financing, as well as risk mitigation strategies that the project entails.
• Collection of information and lessons learned from the project for replicability in local, regional and global cooperation networks.
The other participant projects will be supported with tools that will strengthen project preparation capacities in order to improve their viability and profitability to access climate finance at national and international levels, helping them to comply with the Nationally Determined Contributions and the Sustainable Development Goals at a subnational level.
FELICITY is a global program funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) from the German Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB). For more information on FELICITY and updates, please visit the website: https://iki-alliance.mx/portafolio/financing-energy-for-low-carbon-investment-cities-advisory-facility-felicity
The registration format for climate change adaptation actions was designed to provide feedback on the initial proposal of adaptation actions and projects that support Mexico’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Currently, the NDC of Mexico has 21 general adaptation actions. Each action needs to be characterized to include activities in designated locations, relevant implementation actors, a set budget and indicators to measure progress and impact over time. To implement the actions contributing to the NDC, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is supporting the General Directorate of Climate Change Policies (DGPCC) of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) in characterizing the NDC adaptation actions, as well as its registration in a user-friendly system over the medium- and long-term.
The Government of Mexico has set itself the objective of having a format that supports the recording of relevant information for the monitoring of climate adaptation measures that contribute to the NDC. During the “First Workshop on Identifying Relevant Information for the Design of a Record Format of Climate Change Actions That Contribute to the NDC,” carried out on July 26, 2018, the DGPCC explained that the registration format will be used by federal, state and municipal government institutions, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector and citizens who carry out climate projects or adaptation measures in Mexico.
In a series of participatory exercises during the workshop, participants reviewed and identified the necessary criteria for the registration of actions or adaptation projects. They then analyzed the different categories of recorded information to provide feedback and identify informational gaps in each category.
The commitments assumed by Mexico in the Paris Agreement extend beyond climate change mitigation and adaptation. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda and climate objectives can only be achieved through coordinated implementation at the national level.
In 2015, Mexico committed to meeting the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda and aligned its climate objectives with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Although these are separate agendas, the goals of each complement each other. According to the study “Spinning the Web: The Co-Benefits Approach to an Integrated Implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement in Mexico,” it is important to consider how the co-benefits of the NDC can help achieve the SDGs and support policymaking that contributes to development goals.
The study highlights that climate change is a cross-cutting issue in the 2030 Agenda. For example, the results indicate that 40% of the SDGs directly affect climate mitigation and adaptation goals. These include, for example, Goal 2.4 on sustainable and resilient agricultural systems; 6.4 on the efficient use of water resources; 7.2 on renewable energy; and 11.2 on sustainable transport systems.
The implementation of the NDCs will help towards progress on the SDGs, including those related to technology adoption, reduced vulnerability, improvement in the quality of atmospheric basins, and in health and public administration. The NDC mitigation measures with the greatest impact will be those related to urban planning and the reduction of methane emissions from waste. All of Mexico’s NDC adaptation measures are related to the objectives of the 2030 Agenda, particularly the climate actions with gender and human rights perspectives.
Despite identifying the potential co-benefits, the study authors emphasize that the co-benefits depend on adequate planning that carefully considers regulations and incentives, as well as the necessary resources for carrying out public policy. The most important area of opportunity is implementation, which remains crucial to enhancing the impact and reducing the cost of climate actions that contribute to both agendas. Only with an integral focus will Mexico be able to comply with its international commitments by 2030 and in the future.
The study about the co-benefits of the SDGs and NDC was developed in coordination with the Office of the Presidency of Mexico, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), as well as the 2030 Agenda Initiative and the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The collaboration for this report forms part of the Alliance’s work to support the federal government in fulfilling national climate change policy goals.
In three training days, Cozumel identifies nine climate change measures
The island of Cozumel faces various challenges in terms of climate change. Therefore, it is crucial to disseminate the concepts of adaptation to climate change, including the implementation of the methodology of prioritization of adaptation measures developed by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and GIZ. To identify adaptation measures for the municipality of Cozumel, Quintana Roo, a training course on climate change was provided, in which the following measures were used to prioritize actions:
Tools for the elaboration of vulnerability diagnoses.
Multi – Criterion Analysis.
Cost Analysis – Social Benefit.
Metrics to follow up on the implementation of adaptation actions.
Participants described the measures of adaptation to climate change that respond to certain specific vulnerabilities of the island regarding climate change. The used measures were the following:
Sustainable urban agriculture
System of early warning and control of invasive species
Solar energy
Communication strategy to increase environmental awareness
Rainwater management of the urban area
Wastewater treatment
At the end of the training, it was agreed to work on three additional priority measures:
Mobility and transport,
Environmental education
Strategies for the removal and use of sargassum
Participants agreed on the following points:
GIZ through the Urban and Industrial Environmental Management Program (PGAUI) will support the economic valuation of two selected measures as well as the monitoring and initial implementation of one of them before the current administration comes to an end.
The needs and improvements regarding the management of climate change measures were discussed to involve other actors in the design and implementation of the measures and to define how to link the process to municipality planning.
In the future, the process should be anchored to the implementation of the Municipal Climate Action Program (PACMUN) and the transition team of the new government.
On July 11th-13th, representatives of the City of Cozumel received a training course on climate change provided by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH through its programs Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance (on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany, BMU) and the Urban and Industrial Environmental Management Program (PGAUI, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany, BMZ). 32 participants representing the municipal government, academia, private sector and civil society organizations attended the training.
Active mobility in cities is becoming more relevant on local governments´ agendas. Reformulating public policies and reorienting financing that for many years benefited only the private vehicle requires paradigm shifts. To address this issue, it is vital to recognize the central role that organized civil society plays in positioning the issue.
Cyclist in city
The Climate Protection in the Mexican Urban Policy Program (CiClim) develops a strategy to encourage the use of bicycles together with the local government of Hermosillo through the Municipal Planning Institute (IMPLAN). The program will provide technical assistance for the development of a mapping of routes and profile of urban cyclists in the city, as a result of the workshop “Potential, Challenges and Prospects for Bicycle Transport in Torrid Climates”.
When seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adopting measures for the transport sector is almost indispensable. Improving cyclist mobility has social, environmental and economic impacts on cities, which counteract the negative externalities of the indiscriminate use of cars. Encouraging bicycle mobility has positive results on the health of the population, on air quality and on making our cities more livable.
However, cities face various challenges to promote bicycles as a means of transport for its inhabitants, including the lack of adequate infrastructure and prioritized investment, road education, and cultural barriers, just to name a few. In addition to this, for Hermosillo, the weather is a challenge for people who commute by bicycle.
During the workshop various dynamics were carried out to get to know the context of the city and its particular needs with the aim of directing a strategy of bicycle mobility suitable for Hermosillo. Different fields of action, priority measures, key actors and allies, benefits and risks of using the bicycle were identified, as well as opportunities to overcome obstacles.
The attendees stressed the need for the creation of a regulatory framework, support instruments such as an urban cyclists´ manual and adaptations to infrastructure. In the latter, in addition to road safety criteria, incorporating vegetation that provides shade is a necessary measure of adaptation to the climate of the city.
Dynamics for identifying challenges and opportunities
The event also provided a space for knowledge exchange among cities. The experiences of good practices were shared, particularly in the implementation of the Public Bicycle Systems in Guadalajara and Toluca.
The workshop was organized by CiClim and the IMPLAN of Hermosillo in April. The event opened with the participation of the Municipal President of Hermosillo, and among its attendees were members of cycling associations, representatives of government institutions and the private sector.
Workshop assistants
The CiClim program works on three components: climate-friendly urban planning, ecosystem services and sustainable urban mobility. GIZ advises the Mexican Secretariat of Agrarian, Land, and Urban Development SEDATU, the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources SEMARNAT and five local governments in Mérida, Léon, Tlaquepaque, Hermosillo and Morelia.
This project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) of Germany.
To learn more about the perspectives of academic and government actors, as well as civil society and private sector organizations, about progress made towards converging climate and energy policies, the Energy and Climate Change Policy Convergence (CONECC) project held a seminar at the ITAM (Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México) campus.
Academics, government officials and private sector actors talking
Among the most relevant conclusions from the seminar was the discussion about the recent amendments to the General Law on Climate Change, which it was agreed to play an important role for convergence since they seek to harmonize the obligations of the Paris Agreement with Mexican law, as well as suggest changes to the energy sector based on the Energy Transition. The energy sector’s fundamental role in emission mitigation was also emphasized, although it was recommended that the energy sector’s contribution should not affect its competitiveness or result in overregulation.
Participating academics also highlighted the great opportunity that private sector and civil society organizations have to persuade the new administration about the relevance of climate change and its connection to energy policy. Both should insist that the new government include climate and energy policy as an important part of its political agenda and take advantage of the policy and market windows currently in place in Mexico to make the convergence of climate and energy policies a top priority.
CONECC Director Jonas Russbild discussing CONECC’s action areas
As part of the event’s knowledge exchange, Heiner von Lüpke of the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) presented the results of his research “Integration of Climate Policies in Mexico’s Energy Sector.” Among his main findings, von Lüpke discussed the difficulties of integrating energy policies with the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) due to the conflicting interests of key sectors, skills limitations and a lack of political will. He also spoke about his inability to identify indicators showing a direct relationship between emissions reduction and energy sector development, which suggests that an opening still exists for integration, as well as a need to adjust policy instruments.
Heiner von Lüpke of DIW Berlin
The CONECC seminar was held on June 11 and co-organized by the ITAM and the Center for Economic Research and Teaching (CIDE). It included participants from different organizations, companies and institutions, such as the Ministry of Energy (SENER), the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the Energy Regulatory Commission, the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), the Mexican Association of Hydrocarbon Companies (AMEXHI), the Climate Initiative of Mexico (ICM), Green Momentum, the World Resources Institute, the Mario Molina Center and the Mexico-Denmark Cooperation Program. The seminar served as a space for dialogue and exchange about the importance of building bridges between the climate and energy sectors.
The CONECC project aims to be the bridge between the energy and climate sectors, and integrate their policies so that the NDC can be achieved. It is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and forms part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) dof Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Nuclear (BMU) .
The Seminar “Designing the Technical Aspects of the Emissions Trading System in Mexico” was held with the aim of presenting and discussing the results of the technical studies that have contributed to the definition of the core elements of the ETS in the country.
As established in the recent amendments to the Mexican General Climate Change Law, SEMARNAT was given the mandate to gradually establish an Emissions Trading System (ETS). In compliance with the amendment proposal and its approval by the Congress, Mexico announced the conceptualization of a pilot phase for the Emissions Trading System in the first half of 2018. This trial phase will last for 36 months.
An ETS is a recognized cost-effective instrument to boost GHG mitigation and achieve countries’ climate goals. In the case of Mexico, what studies have been developed and are underway to support the decision-making process? Based on these analyses, what results might be reflected in the preliminary bases of the ETS?
Consolidation of results
The Seminar “Designing the Technical Aspects of the Emissions Trading System in Mexico” contributed to the transparency of the design process of an ETS in the country. Its main objective was to present and discuss the results of the studies behind the definition of the main technical elements of the ETS, covering the following issues: the emissions limit of the system (cap); the measurement of competitiveness in the Mexican industry and the risk of carbon leakage (change of national production to locations with lower restrictions or without a carbon price); considerations for allocation rules and the relationship of the ETS with other instruments such as the Clean Energy Certificates. Relevant aspects on the regulatory framework for an ETS in Mexico were also presented. SEMARNAT closed the event with a timeline view of the subsequent steps.
The above-mentioned topics were presented by international experts from Oeko Institut, Vivid Economics and Center for Resource Solutions (CRS), and the local legal firm Vo.Bo. Environmental Policy Advisors S.C. All of them replied to participants´inquiries during a panel of experts and the question and answer sessions.
It was mentioned that an absolute cap, estimated on historical emissions as reported to the National Emissions Registry (RENE), would be suitable for the Mexican ETS. Regarding the issue of competitiveness, it was suggested to start with free allocation for the pilot phase and to monitor the carbon leakage risk in the covered sectors. Currently there is no carbon leakage evidence in other jurisdictions with an ETS in place. The consultants presented advantages and disadvantages of different allocation methods and recommended, in order to avoid double counting, the coexistence and independence of the ETS and CEL systems. The results of all these studies, as well as the 2017 study “Achieving Mexican Mitigation Targets: Options for an Effective Carbon Pricing Policy Mix” on the interaction of the carbon tax with other market instruments, are available for regulated sectors and will be fundamental to SEMARNAT’s decision-making process in the next months. The Ministry expects to have the regulation (preliminary bases for the pilot phase) ready by the end of June 2018, to begin its official publication process.
The event was held on June 22 at the Hotel Sheraton María Isabel. It was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), in the framework of the GIZ project “Preparation of an Emissions Trading System in Mexico (SiCEM)”, commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment of Germany (BMU). It was attended by around 140 public, private, academia and civil society stakeholders. All the studies will be published in the GIZ blog during the next months.
In cooperation with the German Embassy and the ITAM (Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México), the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance project brought together European climate change cooperation agencies in Mexico within the framework of the European Climate Diplomacy Week. There was a fruitful discussion about the importance of international cooperation for achieving Mexico’s climate goals with representatives of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Delegation of the European Union, the Danish Energy Agency, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, the Embassies of Poland, the United Kingdom and France, as well as the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) and the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC). The more than 90 participants expressed strong interest in the subject and affirmed Mexico’s and the European Union’s global leadership on the issue of climate change.
Second Technical Training Workshop for the Private Sector
In 2018, Mexico announced to create the basis for a pilot phase of an Emissions Trading System (ETS), as a cost-effective instrument to encourage mitigation and achieve the country’s climate goals. How is the process of planning and implementing mitigation measures supported by the industries that were required to participate in the ETS?
According to the recent amendments to the General Law on Climate Change, the mandate is given to gradually establish an ETS. The pilot phase of the ETS will last 36 months, giving way to a later phase. In this sense, it becomes relevant for companies to start generating knowledge to promote internal mitigation measures, taking into account that some of these measures will take time to achieve the desired emissions reductions.
Participants of the Specialized Workshop
From theory to practice
In order to contribute to the planning process, a Specialized Workshop was organized for the private sector with the purpose of generating greater knowledge about the strategies that the industrial sector should develop to achieve the management of carbon portfolios, and that attendees could go through the necessary steps to establish a portfolio of emission reductions within their companies. The above was achieved by covering issues such as obtaining the baseline of their emissions and developing the marginal abatement curve where the most cost-effective technologies to be implemented could be identified. These topics were complemented with other relevant topics for the private sector, such as the use of compensation credits (offsets) to meet the mitigation goals. The issues of carbon leakage were also addressed, for which it has been concluded that at the moment there is no evidence that it has been presented in any implemented ETS.
Highlighting the importance of taking into account lessons learnt from international experiences, there have been remote links with companies such as Colbún (Chile) and PG&E (California), in order to share case studies of international corporate strategies on carbon reduction. The strategies were presented through the identification of steps to be followed, highlighting good practices such as: establishing multidisciplinary coordination teams, developing early reports, carrying out risk analysis and identifying opportunities, and generating collaboration with other interested parties in the process. Finally, for the closure of the Specialized Workshop participants presented a Carbon Strategy, which was designed throughout the workshop, where they could apply the concepts taught, question their correct understanding and reflect on the implications of developing a low emission strategy inside their companies.
Closing of the Specialized Workshop
The workshop was held on April 10 and 11 at the facilities of the Mexican Stock Exchange. This workshop was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) within the framework of the project “Preparation of an Emissions Trading System in Mexico” of the GIZ on behalf of the German Ministry of Environment (BMU). An average of 35 representatives attended from the industrial sector, including different sectors such as: oil and gas, cement, steel, paper, power generation, glass, among others. The Specialized Workshop is the second part of a series of workshops that began with three sessions called Common Core, which covered basic ETS concepts.
Given the relevance of maintaining the link with the private sector, it is prerogative of the authority to continue generating spaces that allow the construction of capacities, so that the continuation of promoting these opportunities for interaction with the different industrial sectors is already considered.
The evidence obtained by Project AVE (Adaptation, Vulnerability and Ecosystems) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) about Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) measures in six transboundary watersheds of Mexico and Central America supports a governance approach for climate change adaptation. The results indicate that the measures implemented in Chiapas are an example to follow.
Learning from local experience is essential for the selection of climate change adaptation measures. Nature also plays a crucial role in this process, and strong governance structures are the key vehicle for local implementation of EbA. But how can these proposals and solutions be brought to other communities, social sectors and levels? Through Project AVE, the Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (ORMACC) and the IUCN’s Environmental Law Centre work in six EbA learning sites in transboundary watersheds of Mesoamerica to scale and build the evidence base about the benefits of the EBA approach. The elements that will be scaled are presented in the following graph:
Chiapas, one of the states with the greatest vulnerability to climate change in Mexico, has pursued ambitious efforts to combat climate change. Several EbA measures have been implemented in communities located in the upper part of the Cahoacan River Basin and on the coast—areas connecting to the Coatan River—including reforestation with forest and fruit species, soil conservation efforts, recovery of degraded forests and mangrove restoration.
Due to successful local-level adaptation, EbA measures have been scaled up in the Azteca ejido through the Local Strategy for Sustainable Development under Climate Change. The strategy is being integrated into the policies and practices of governments, companies and communities to improve ecosystem services and reduce vulnerability to climate change.
Given the fundamental role of dialogue for effective governance and the scaling up of adaptation processes, the Natural Solutions and Governance for Climate Change Adaptation Forum was organized in Tapachula to promote the exchange of ideas among key decision-makers. In addition, the Advisory Council on Climate Change of the State of Chiapas was recently reinstated, another key space for dialogue that responds to the Inter-Secretariat Coordination Commission on Climate Change.
The community of Conquista Campesina working on mangrove reforestation
Project AVE is implemented in five other Central American countries. In this way, the regional experience enriches the national and local work of each learning site (see map).
GUATEMALA
· The IUCN works closely with community organizations and Guatemala’s Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN) to scale the learning of EbA measures across the Guatemalan highlands.
·Work is being completed to improve the food security of the indigenous groups and local communitiesindigenous groups and local communities of the Binational Sixaola River Basin. Recently, the Fifth Agrobiodiversity Fair was held in Sixaola, Costa Rica. It included participation from more than 100 stakeholders, including producers, municipal authorities, indigenous representatives, academics, state institutions and non-governmental organizations.
The Fifth Agrobiodiversity Fair in Sixaola allowed producers to exchange seeds and share sustainable adaptation practices.
Project AVE’s EbA activities are financed through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of The Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
This article belongs to the IUCN. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the author.
