IKI Alliance – IKI Alliance

Extreme weather events associated with climate variability and climate change are affecting rural production systems with increasing frequency. In this context, the evolution of “El Niño” into a more intense event during 2026–2027 could exacerbate conditions such as prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, and extreme temperatures, creating additional challenges for communities that depend on agriculture and natural resources for their livelihoods.

Among the most vulnerable sectors are small-scale rural farmers. Their dependence on weather conditions—particularly the rainy season for food production and income generation—means that the impacts of climate change pose significant risks to their livelihoods, food security, and the well-being of their families.

Given this scenario, strengthening the adaptive capacity of rural communities has become a priority. Climate change adaptation seeks to reduce the vulnerability of people, ecosystems, and production systems through actions that enable them to anticipate, cope with, and recover from the effects of an increasingly variable and uncertain climate.

With this goal in mind, the SAbERES Project works with small-scale producers, organizations, and local institutions in different regions of Mexico to promote evidence-based adaptation processes developed through participatory approaches. Through tools such as Climate Change Adaptation Plans (PACC), the project supports the identification of climate risks and the implementation of measures aimed at strengthening the resilience of production systems and the ecosystems on which they depend.

The experience gained through SAbERES shows that actions such as soil conservation, sustainable water management, production diversification, and the restoration of ecosystem functions can significantly contribute to reducing the vulnerability of rural families. Similarly, strengthening technical and organizational capacities improves decision-making in the face of climate risk scenarios.

As part of this effort, the project has developed an Adaptive Capacity Index that identifies strengths and areas for improvement to increase the resilience of rural communities. The information generated by this tool helps to better understand the factors that facilitate or limit adaptation and provides useful evidence to guide more effective interventions and investments.

The lessons learned from these processes also offer valuable insights for the design and implementation of public policies. Strengthening adaptation requires not only actions at the farm or community level but also institutions capable of incorporating climate risk into development planning, promoting coordination across sectors, and directing resources toward the most vulnerable populations.

In this context, progress toward a National Climate Change Adaptation Policy led by the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change represents an opportunity to strengthen the resilience of rural areas and recognize the strategic role that small-scale farmers play in food security and the conservation of natural resources. In the face of an increasingly variable and uncertain climate, adaptation should not be viewed as a supplementary measure, but rather as a strategic investment. Strengthening the resilience of rural communities in the face of the effects of climate change helps protect food production, the livelihoods of millions of people, and the sustainable development of these regions.

*Corn-growing plot in San Lucas, Michoacán. Credit: SABERES.*

Demonstration plot for soil restoration with nopal and maguey cultivation. Credit: SABERES.

Agroforestry plot in Oaxaca. Credit: SABERES.

Mexico is at a pivotal moment in its efforts to establish the circular economy as part of its sustainable development policy. The National Development Plan 2025–2030, the Mexico Plan, the General Law on the Circular Economy, and Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0 all point toward a transformation of the economy through the promotion and implementation of circular production and consumption models.

In this context, in the summer of 2026, an agreement was formalized between the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN, by its German acronym) and the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), to implement the project titled “Enhancing Feasibility for Eco-Industrial Parks (PODECIBIS). Circular innovation & financial intelligence for unlocking new markets and fostering inclusive economic development through cooperation.”

As part of the project’s kick-off activities, and in collaboration with the PROCEP project, a workshop titled “National Waste Policy and Its Linkage with the Private Sector for the Transition to a Circular Economy” was held on August 25, 2026. The workshop helped identify the needs of each link in the waste management chain to ensure compliance with regulations and establish circularity as a top priority.

The workshop was attended by the head of the Undersecretariat of Sustainable Development and the Circular Economy, Dr. José Luis Samaniego Leyva, as well as the heads and representatives of Mexico’s leading industrial and business chambers, including: CANACINTRA, CANAINTEX, CNIH, CANACEM, CANIETI, CANIRAC, CANAFEM, CONCAMIN, CONCANACO, and CANACERO.

Among the workshop’s key findings are the following: the private sector does not question the direction of the policy, but rather the conditions necessary to implement it; greater clarity is needed regarding the scope of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR); and; among the stakeholders, there is a robust array of educational, technical, and social resources available to make the circular economy a reality. The challenge, therefore, is not only to build new capacities but also to coordinate, scale up, and leverage existing ones. We will continue to collaborate on this path and keep you updated through this channel!

Images from the workshop “National Waste Policy and Its Link to the Private Sector for the Transition to the Circular Economy.” Credits: GIZ Mexico – Marco García.

The “Goals for Water” campaign successfully raised awareness about water conservation in Mexico during the World Cup.

Over the course of a month, the videos were shared on digital platforms, generating more than 6 million impressions and nearly 3 million full views—a figure that exceeded initial projections. Nearly 99% of the impressions were concentrated in Mexico City, in line with the campaign’s objectives, which aimed first and foremost to raise awareness among the public visiting the country’s capital to attend matches at Azteca Stadium or the Fan Fests.

The age group most receptive to the message “The best play is to conserve water. Join the team” was, unsurprisingly, the 45–54 age group; however, the 25–34 age group also showed great interest in the videos’ content, highlighting the importance of designing a water culture campaign focused on this age range.

This digital communication campaign, launched by the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH as part of the SbN Agua project, sought to capitalize on the public attention generated by the sporting event to raise awareness among domestic and international visitors about the importance of conserving water. The videos were distributed across various digital platforms—Google Ads (YouTube); Meta (Facebook and Instagram); Programmatic Video; and Connected TV—from June 10 to July 10, 2026, using the language of the game and sports identity to encourage fans to use water responsibly during their stay—such as taking shorter showers, reporting leaks, or turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth.

One of the strategic pillars of the SbN Agua project is to promote water-related cultural activities to influence how the capital’s residents—and young people in particular—relate to this vital resource. New collaborative initiatives with the National Water Commission in this area will be launched in the coming months.

Example of messages shared on digital media as part of the campaign. Credit: GIZ Mexico.

The campaign sought to frame water conservation as a positive action during the World Cup, particularly among young people. Credit: GIZ Mexico.

The campaign encouraged visitors to take steps to conserve water during their stay. Credit: GIZ Mexico.

From August 18 to 20, 2026, the International Seminar on Governance and Financing Mechanisms for the Conservation of Pollination Services was held, where experts and speakers from eleven countries gathered in Brasília, Brazil, to explore how governance models, public policies, and financial solutions can advance the conservation of pollinator insects and pollination services in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This event was organized by the Poli-LAC Project, a regional initiative implemented in Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Costa Rica, and Paraguay, which aims to help government and nongovernmental actors in Latin America and the Caribbean expand their knowledge-based management practices and enhance their cooperation to improve the protection of pollinating insects and their ecosystem services.

As a result of two intensive days of work, participants presented a Call to Action for the Protection of Pollinators in Latin America and the Caribbean, developed based on the exchange of experiences, technical knowledge, and lessons learned during the International Seminar. The document presents eleven recommendations aimed at strengthening the protection and sustainable use of pollinators in the region, as well as to contribute to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 2018–2030 Action Plan of the International Pollinator Initiative (IPI).

This Call to Action will help strengthen regional cooperation and collective action in support of the conservation of pollinators and pollination services within the framework of the upcoming COP 17 in Armenia.

The Poli-LAC project is carried out by German development cooperation, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, on behalf of the International Climate Initiative, and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), and is co-financed by the Delegation of the European Union in Paraguay.

View the proposal for the International Seminar on Governance and Financing Mechanisms for the Conservation of Pollination Services here: https://iki-alliance.mx/wp-content/uploads/01_Llamado-a-la-Accion-para-la-proteccion-de-los-polinizadores-en-America-Latina-y-el-Caribe.pdf

And the agenda: https://iki-alliance.mx/wp-content/uploads/02_Agenda_Seminario-Internacional-sobre-Polinizadores.pdf

Arabica coffee cultivation at the Igaraçu family farm, where pollinator-friendly practices are implemented in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Credit: GIZ Brazil.

Environmental Education Center on Native Bees in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Credit: GIZ Brazil.

Brazilian delegation at the opening of the International Seminar, from left to right: Johen Quinten / GIZ, Kayna Agostini / REBIPP, Gabriel Delgado / IICA, Mara Dos Santos / State of Bahia, Ansgar Aschfal / German Embassy, Patrícia Mourão / MDA, Braulio Dias / MMA, and Clecivaldo de Sousa / MAPA. Credit: GIZ Brazil.

Participants in the International Seminar. Credits: GIZ Brazil.

Virtual participation by Carlos Rodríguez (FIRA, Mexico) in Session 4: Risks of pollinator loss in credit analysis, investment, and due diligence. Credit: GIZ Brazil.

Mexican delegation with representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, the implementing organization Espacios Naturales y Desarrollo Sustentable, and GIZ Mexico. Credit: GIZ Mexico.

On July 2, 2026, the IKI FlexMex project, currently in its preparatory phase, organized the webinar “Battery Storage: Challenges and Opportunities in the New Regulatory Framework” in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy (SENER). The event brought together approximately 120 participants from various segments of Mexico’s energy sector, including representatives from public institutions, civil society organizations, and technical experts, with the aim of sharing knowledge and perspectives on the strategic role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the country’s energy transition. The agenda included presentations on global trends and experiences in the deployment of BESS, advances in grid-forming control technologies, as well as an update on regulatory developments in Mexico.

The webinar was held as a preparatory activity prior to the formal launch of FlexMex, a project that seeks to support Mexico in the accelerated integration of renewable energy and flexibility solutions into the power grids. The session helped raise awareness about the potential of energy storage to strengthen the flexibility, resilience, and reliability of the Mexican power system.

The event opened with welcoming remarks from a representative of Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUKN). During the event, moderated by the Institute for Development, Energy, and Environment (IDEA), experts from the National Energy Commission (CNE), the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Guidehouse, and the Mexico Climate Initiative (ICM) presented regulatory developments, relevant international experiences, and technological trends related to battery storage. The presentations highlighted the growing role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) as enablers of greater renewable energy integration and as a key tool for meeting the flexibility needs of modern electric power systems. In addition to the technical presentations, participants had the opportunity to ask questions, fostering a space for dialogue on the challenges and opportunities associated with the deployment of energy storage in Mexico. Among the topics addressed were emerging regulatory frameworks and technological innovations that can help accelerate the adoption of these solutions.

Screenshot from the webinar showing the speakers and a slide summarizing the FlexMex project. Credit: Diego Bietenholz.

Initial situation

Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Cuba are involved in this initiative, which aims to reduce the vulnerability of their populations to extreme climate events caused by climate change by increasing their adaptive capacity and minimizing their social and economic impacts through the development of ecosystem-based adaptation measures and innovative financial mechanisms aligned with the conditions and needs of the target populations.

Introduction

Mexico is a megadiverse country. A combination of factors within its territory has enabled the development of a wide variety of life forms, with a large number of endemic species and a forest area of temperate forests and tropical forests covering 64 million hectares.

Initial situation

Introduction

Unfortunately, deforestation and pollution are also a reality, causing biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. This makes the country highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, increasing the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, which in turn cause considerable social and economic damage. In contrast, well-conserved forests with high biodiversity and resilience reduce the vulnerability of populations in watersheds to extreme climate events.

In this context, in 2016 the partners Pronatura México A. C. in Mexico; Defensores de la Naturaleza, in Guatemala; Centro Naturaleza, in the Dominican Republic; and the Budgeted Unit for Environmental Services, in Cuba, submitted a proposal led by Oro Verde to the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). Through the International Climate Initiative programme (IKI, by its German acronym), the initiative seeks to develop an integrated and multisectoral model with ecosystem-based adaptation measures and innovative financial mechanisms for watershed conservation, thereby reducing the vulnerability of inhabitants in these countries to extreme climate events caused by climate change and minimizing their social and economic impacts.

This project will be developed based on an integrated management approach for priority watersheds. This consists of implementing EbA (Ecosystem-based Adaptation) initiatives in areas that provide high-value ecosystem functions and services, encouraging their conservation and restoration together with local communities. The aim is to promote both their adaptation to climate change and the ecological resilience of forest areas and agricultural and livestock production zones, based on good practices and sustainable use.

To develop this model, actions will be implemented to make a significant contribution to the restoration and conservation of forests and their biodiversity, thereby promoting their adaptation to climate change. Activities will focus on four areas:

Sustainable land-use plans, consisting of strategies developed through a participatory process that include actions aimed at ecosystem-based adaptation, integrating the functions and ecosystem services of forests so that ecosystems and the societies that depend on them become resilient to the negative effects of climate change.
Innovative financial mechanisms based on the economic valuation of ecosystem services and their main beneficiaries or users, creating creative and proactive financial links among them.
Forest ecosystem services that promote the restoration of vulnerable areas through participatory management and conservation of forest areas to improve adaptation to climate change and reduce vulnerability to disturbances of varying magnitude. This will be achieved through the implementation of agricultural, livestock, and forestry techniques within an ecosystem-based adaptation framework, with the aim of promoting the resilience of forests and productive areas in each watershed through improved fire management strategies, biodiversity conservation, and the development of sustainable production techniques.
National regulations and public policies: based on the successful lessons learned during project implementation, the aim is to share findings and results with decision-makers at different levels in order to influence the regulatory frameworks of each partner country and promote public policies focused on climate change adaptation. This will be carried out by raising awareness of climate change adaptation and reducing population vulnerability through various consultation forums supported by an effective communication campaign and involving leaders and decision-makers.

This project will last five years, during which the different activities will be implemented to strengthen resilience in the watersheds of the four partner countries. In Mexico, work will take place in the Valley of Mexico Basin, with the communities of San Gregorio Atlapulco, La Magdalena Contreras, San Lorenzo Acopilco, and Desierto de los Leones National Park in Mexico City, as well as Atlautla de Victoria, Santa Isabel Chalma, and Sierra de Guadalupe State Park in the State of Mexico.

During 2018, participatory assessments were conducted at each project site to identify climate trends and the levels of vulnerability that communities could face under these scenarios. Models for identifying and valuing ecosystem services will also be used. This information will serve as input for the preparation of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) plans aimed at increasing the resilience of natural areas and reducing vulnerability to climate impacts at the project sites.

San Gregorio Atlapulco, where various chinampas can be seen in the Xochimilco wetland

Desierto de los Leones, forest area affected by a wildfire in the 1980s

This project represents a major challenge for the communities and our organizations. We are taking it on with great enthusiasm and professionalism, knowing that along the way we will have many allies who share our goals.

These are currently the locations where the CuencasVerdes project is being implemented:

CuencasVerdes is a project that represents a major challenge for both the communities and our organizations, but we are addressing it with enthusiasm and great professionalism, confident that we will have more allies with shared objectives who will help us successfully reach our goal.

“CuencasVerdes, adapting to the future”

Contacts in Mexico:

Oswaldo Flores Armillas
Project Coordinator in Mexico
oswaldo.flores@pronatura.org.mx

Diana Sánchez
Regional Communications Coordinator
diana.sanchez@pronatura.org.mx

Torsten Klimpel
International Coordination of the Cuencas Verdes project (Oroverde die tropenwaldstiftung)
tklimpel@oroverde.de

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Pronatura Newsletters:

Ecosystem-based Adaptation Programme for Sierra de Guadalupe State Park

Ecosystem-based Adaptation Programme for the Ejidos de Xochimilco and San Gregorio Atlapulco Protected Natural Area

Workshop: Governance, economic valuation and financing for climate change adaptation

Ecosystem-based Adaptation Programme for the community of Santa Isabel Chalma, State of Mexico

Ecosystem-based Adaptation Programme for the municipality of Atlautla, State of Mexico

2020 Annual Newsletter – On the Way to the Summit

Integrating climate change into marine protected areas and coastal management in the ecoregion

The Mesoamerican Reef System is the largest transboundary reef in the world and contains the second-longest barrier reef globally.

The system extends along 1,000 km of coastline across four countries: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras, and is a key area for biodiversity conservation, including sea turtles, more than 60 types of coral, and more than 500 species of fish.

Initial situation

The marine and coastal resources of the Mesoamerican Reef region provide essential ecosystem services, sustain key economic sectors (fisheries and tourism), support the livelihoods of more than two million people, and contribute to protecting coastal communities from the adverse effects of climate change. At the same time, the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras are among the regions most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The management of these resources, including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and coastal development frameworks, does not adequately take adaptation principles and options into account. There is a need to strengthen the capacities of coastal communities and governments to integrate climate change scenarios and adaptation options into participatory decision-making processes that can inform MPAs as well as coastal development and management policies.

About the project

With support from the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the “Ready Coasts” project seeks to establish “climate-smart” principles in the management of marine protected areas and coastal development policies in the countries of the Mesoamerican Reef System, with the aim of improving the adaptive capacities of the region’s coastal communities. Specific adaptation options, e.g. ecosystem-based approaches, will be identified through an intersectoral, stakeholder-driven decision-making process using science-based tools, including ecological risk assessments and cost-benefit analyses that integrate climate change and social development scenarios, ecosystem service modelling, and green vs. grey infrastructure. By influencing management and policy frameworks, adaptation measures will be implemented in key coastal areas of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. The project will improve local and national knowledge and capacities, contribute to adaptation plans and policies, and present best practices in relevant national and international forums.

Multiplier effect

The project contributes through several strategies that multiply its impact. Key representatives of coastal communities, government institutions, and civil society organizations will be trained in methods and tools to identify and assess appropriate solutions for adapting to the effects of climate change. By integrating climate change principles into local, subnational, and national policy and management frameworks, strategies for improved adaptation across the region will be promoted.

In addition, best practices for integrating climate change criteria into marine and coastal resource management policies will be compiled and shared in forums at the national, regional, and global levels. The project aims to enable the institutionalization of coastal and marine resource management policies and frameworks that integrate climate change and to replicate activities beyond the project’s geographical area and duration.

Focus sites

The project is implemented in the four countries that make up the MAR.

In Mexico, the focus sites are the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve (Yucatán) and the Yum Balám Flora and Fauna Protection Area (Quintana Roo).
In Belize, the Northern Regional Planning Zone, Ambergris Caye Regional Planning Zone, and Southern Regional Planning Zone.
In Guatemala, the Río Sarstún Multiple Use Protected Area.
In Honduras, the focus will be on four protected areas: Cuyamel-Omoa National Park, Jeannette Kawas National Park (Punta Sal), Punta Izopo National Park, and the Bahía de Tela Wildlife Refuge, in addition to the Interconnection Zone (a broad area between two of the protected areas).

All these sites were selected because of their importance for biodiversity conservation and the vulnerability of their populations to climate change.

Expected results

A portfolio of climate change adaptation options identified through a participatory process that takes into account the needs of local communities and environmental conservation.
Local populations and decision-makers strengthen their capacities to identify and prioritize climate change adaptation options.
Government authorities have recommendations for integrating climate change adaptation aspects and criteria into territorial planning instruments.
Adaptation measures implemented with the participation of local stakeholders.
A working group for disseminating good practices on the identification, integration, and implementation of adaptation measures in coastal areas and marine protected areas.

Participating institutions

Political partners:

Mexico

National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP)
Division/Department: Yucatán Peninsula and Mexican Caribbean Region

Belize

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Environment and Sustainable Development Division/Department: Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI)

Guatemala

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MARN)
Division/Department: Department of Ecosystems

Honduras

Ministry of Energy, Natural Resources, Environment and Mines (MiAmbiente+)
Division/Department: Department of Protected Areas
National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF)

Implementing partners:

WWF Guatemala/Mesoamerica
WWF Mexico
WWF US / Columbia University
Natural Capital Project – Stanford University

Implementing organization:

WWF Germany

Contact

Ninel Escobar, Climate Change Coordinator

WWF Mexico

nescobar@wwfmex.org

Alejandra Calzada Vázquez Vela, Senior Mesoamerican Reef Officer –

WWF Mexico

acalzada@wwfmex.org

The project supports partner countries in further defining their commitments to landscape restoration and developing strategic implementation plans. This programme will support efforts under the Bonn Challenge.

The initiative advances through three main areas of activity:

1) technical and policy support to agricultural and environmental authorities in the decision-making process for placing specific areas under restoration, including the identification and removal of policy and regulatory barriers to land restoration in the region;

2) cost-effectiveness analyses to support the selection of alternative restoration schemes;

3) support for identifying and accessing resources to finance land restoration efforts, particularly by improving enabling conditions to attract investors who have already committed to the initiative.

Initial situation

The project strengthened the management of protected areas by providing equipment and carrying out environmental communication activities. It also provided training on surveillance and fire control, as well as on the sustainable use of resources, with particular emphasis on fisheries, livestock farming, and agriculture. To improve cooperation among key stakeholders, coordination workshops were organized with municipalities, local interest groups, and CONANP.

Objectives

Promote the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of five areas of national and international importance, with particular emphasis on climate change prevention and adaptation, as well as the preservation of biodiversity.

Activities

Procurement of equipment worth approximately one-third of the total funding volume. This made it possible to develop solid infrastructure in the selected protected areas and facilitate both the mobility and communication of CONANP staff.
Implementation of communication campaigns focused on raising awareness among target audiences.
Training and equipment for fire brigades.
Strengthening the knowledge base for future management activities in the participating protected areas and implementation of a monitoring system capable of detecting changes in vegetation cover.
Development of pilot examples for planning the sustainable use of resources in protected areas.

Initial situation

The project developed training programmes to equip professionals from banks and local financial institutions with the skills needed to assess renewable energy investment projects. To determine risks, banking-sector staff require specialized knowledge in a range of areas, such as the specific characteristics of each type of renewable energy and electricity sales. The training programmes were designed in an electronic format, facilitating their use in other Latin American countries.

Objectives

Strengthen the capacities of professionals from banks and local financial institutions to assess renewable energy investment projects.

Activities

Training for 27 bankers from Mexico and other Latin American countries on the development of financial products for low-emission technologies.
Two energy efficiency projects in the hotel sector were financed by two local banks.
Development of a tool to calculate the carbon reduction potential of sustainable energy investments.
Creation of a knowledge centre to carry out future training programmes.