Author: IKI Alliance
Mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses make up blue carbon ecosystems, named for their ability to capture and store carbon. They are extremely important because they reduce the risks and negative impacts of climate change, protect coastal areas from storms and hurricanes, in addition to contributing to the well-being of communities. Mexico is the fourth country in the world with the largest extension of mangroves (CONANP, 2017) so it is crucial to protect these ecosystems and reduce the rates of degradation and loss.
In this sense, the Secretariat of Well-being and Sustainable Development of Sinaloa (SEBIDES) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (German Cooperation for Sustainable Development), through the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance, together with The College of Environmental Engineers of Mexico (CINAM), organized the virtual presentation of the results of the project “Carbon reservoir and vulnerability of the mangrove swamp of the Santa María Lagoon System – La Reforma, in the municipality of Angostura, Sinaloa“. The purpose of the event was to share the lessons learned that could be of interest for the development of future projects in the other coastal states of the country.
The session began with the words of Ms. Yamel Rubio Rocha, Undersecretary of SEBIDES, and Mr. Álvaro Luna, Principal Advisor of the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance of GIZ Mexico, who highlighted the importance of promoting multi-sector work around blue carbon for the conservation of biodiversity, as well as mitigation and adaptation to change climate.
Subsequently, Engineer Adolfo Lara from CINAM, presented the particularities of the project, which was carried out through a participatory process with federal, state and municipal government institutions, state higher education institutions, civil and fishermen associations, as well as the citizens of the municipality of La Angostura. It was composed of four axes:
- The evaluation of the mangrove carbon reservoir of the lagoon system.
- The determination of the vulnerability of the carbon reservoir against hydrometeorological phenomena and environmental deterioration due to human activities.
- The proposal of actions for the conservation of the carbon reservoir and sustainable use of natural resources.
- The transfer of the knowledge obtained from the project to the inhabitants of the region and the federal entities of the country with similar characteristics.
Among the main results, he highlighted the great capacity of the mangrove to store carbon and the need to protect this ecosystem due to its importance in reducing marine erosion and flooding caused by storm surges.
The information repository on the project available to the general public was presented, which stores all the documents and information relevant to the study. Check it here.
To close the session, Dr. Jorge Siller from SEBIDES, Mtra. Yuriana González from GIZ Mexico and Eng. Alberto Cruzado from CINAM, emphasized the importance of determining the dimensions of the carbon reservoir and its vulnerability as a first step for the design of strategies for its conservation, the reduction of carbon emissions and adaptation to the climate change.
This initiative showed the relevance of promoting projects aimed at the protection and conservation of mangroves in the country’s states, as well as establishing multi-stakeholder and multi-sector alliances to strengthen local climate action.
To learn more about the work process, we invite you to read the article “The mangroves of Angostura, Sinaloa and their role in climate action” and download the final report of this study.
Mangrove swamp of the Laguna Santa María System – La Reforma, Angostura, Sinaloa © CINAM / GIZ Mexico, 2022
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face today, and addressing it requires the collaboration of all actors and sectors. Therefore, fostering policy dialogue, effective communication and knowledge management are key to generating synergies and sharing the best ways to address this global challenge.
In order to strengthen cooperative dialogue, foster the exchange of experiences between Mexico and Germany and promote knowledge management, the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, works hand in hand with the Government of Mexico to communicate and raise awareness on the issue and to promote informed and inclusive climate action. In addition, its Interface role for IKI projects in Mexico helps share best practices for climate change and biodiversity projects in the country.
We invite you to learn more about the efforts to strengthen the cooperative dialogue driven by the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance. Click on the image below:
Ante la gravedad de los problemas ambientales como el cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad y la limitada disponibilidad de recursos que se requieren para mantener el nivel de actividad económica, es fundamental comenzar a sentar las bases para la transición hacia un sistema económico que además de ofrecer opciones de crecimiento y desarrollo a corto y mediano plazo, también permita la protección de los sistemas naturales de los que depende el bienestar de la población a largo plazo.
Mientras que en los últimos 50 años la población mundial se ha duplicado, la extracción de recursos se ha triplicado, alcanzando 12.2 toneladas anuales per cápita en 2017. Con los patrones actuales de producción y consumo se estima que para el 2050 se duplicará la extracción de recursos, lo que representará una enorme presión para el balance de los ecosistemas.
Hoja de Ruta para una economía circular
Como parte de los esfuerzos por impulsar un uso más eficiente de recursos, y la circularidad en los sistemas productivos del estado, la Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH (Cooperación Alemana al Desarrollo Sustentable) a través del proyecto Iniciativa Eficiencia de Recursos y Acción Climática (IREK II) cooperó junto con el Gobierno de Guanajuato a través de la Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico Sustentable (SDES) y la Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Ordenamiento Territorial (SMAOT) para preparar la hoja de ruta – “Guanajuato Circular 2050: Eficiencia de Recursos y Economía Circular”. Este documento presenta la visión del gobierno Estatal para lograr sistemas productivos que permitan mantener y recuperar el valor de los recursos a lo largo todo su ciclo de vida de los productos, y cuidar el equilibrio de los ciclos biológicos.
Relevance
In addition to being one of the first states to lay the foundations for moving towards more efficient and circular production models, an innovative aspect of the Guanajuato Circular 2050 document is that it seeks to do so in a sectoral manner, identifying the main subsectors based on their contribution to the local Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which allows specific strategies to be established for each one.
The objective is to foster communication based on trust between the public and private sectors regarding the specific conditions of each productive subsector, and to develop action plans, indicators and sectoral regulations that encourage the efficient use of resources, sustainable production and consumption. This limits the degradation of ecosystems and ensures the availability of vital resources for future generations.
Consult the document “Guanajuato Circular 2050: Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy” by clicking on the image below.
The document can also be downloaded from the virtual library of the Ministry of Environment and Territorial Planning: https://smaot.guanajuato.gob.mx/sitio/biblioteca-en-linea
Due to the global challenges posed by climate change, most water and wastewater utilities have confirmed that planning is key to preparing for the future. Therefore, climate risk plans represent a fundamental tool for supporting utilities in preparing for the risks to which their infrastructure is exposed, to reducing their vulnerability and to contributing to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of water supply and wastewater services.
For this reason, the “Support Guide for the Development of Climate Risk Management Plans for Water and Wastewater Operating Organisations (O.O.) in Mexico” is designed to provide O.O.’s with the necessary information to start the process of developing a Climate Change Management Plan.
The Public Infrastructure Engineering Infrastructure Vulnerability Committee Protocol (PIEVC), a useful tool for assessing infrastructure vulnerability and adaptation to a changing climate, was used in the development of this guide. The PIEVC Protocol is internationally recognised as a practical and reliable approach for assessing the vulnerability of infrastructure to the potential impacts of climate change. The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in partnership with the Climate Risk Institute (CRI), leads the international component of the PIEVC Programme (see PIEVC International).
Due to the increasing effects of climate change, the development of a Climate Risk Management Plan is essential for the sustainable operations of O.O.s. This guide provides the procedural knowledge necessary for O.Os to assess their circumstances, seek assistance and plan through the development of a Climate Change Risk Management Plan.
Global challenges need joint responses. The climate crisis is one of the greatest threats to people, ecosystems and the planet. In its sixth assessment, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirmed that global warming events have increased in exposure and intensity, causing major adverse impacts, especially on the most vulnerable communities. In this context, it highlights the importance of promoting resilient climate development, which addresses these impacts in a cross-cutting manner to move towards a sustainable, dignified and inclusive future.
Through the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has collaborated to drive ambitious climate action. Specifically, it has worked with the Government of Mexico through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), especially with the General Directorate of Climate Action Policies (DGPAC), the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), subnational governments and other partners, including civil society.
In this third phase, the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance has collaborated on four objectives together with SEMARNAT and partners to implement concrete measures at federal and subnational levels to achieve Mexico’s NDC targets.
In the framework of the presentation of the results for the third phase, we share this document on the scopes and pathways for future cooperation.
This document aims to be a compendium of the impacts, best practices, lessons learned and products developed during the third phase of the Mexican-German Climate Change Partnership on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK) through the International Climate Protection Initiative (IKI).
Each section is divided into the four axes mentioned above and include a summary with key messages, climate actions taken and product highlights, including studies, infographics, videos, articles, communication strategies, among others.
We hope you enjoy this tour and that you find it useful to learn about what has been developed during the four parts of this third phase, and that it helps promote sustainability and replicability of climate action. The Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance will continue to work together with SEMARNAT and its national partners to promote a sustainable, dignified and inclusive Mexico focused on wellbeing.
