Author: IKI Alliance

The regional working group ‘Cities and Climate Change’ of the sectoral networks GADeR-ALC and red-lac of GIZ, supported the translation into Spanish of the study “Guiding Urban concepts and climate change in Germany’s Urban Planning Practice“, and included an introductory section that offers a reflection on the Latin American cities and the urban development challenges they face in a climate change scenario.

In April 2018 the study “Guiding urban concepts and climate change in the urban planning practice in Germany” was published, developed under the global project of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, ‘Cities Fit for Climate Change‘ which is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

As part of the activities of 2018 of the regional working group “Urban Development and Climate Change”, the opportunity to share the findings of this study in Spanish language, and to offer a reflection within the Latin American context was identified. This group arises from cooperation between the sectoral networks of Environmental Management and Rural Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (GADeR-ALC) and the State and Democracy Sector Network in Latin America and the Caribbean (red-lac) with financing from GIZ’s regional innovation fund.

The section called “Vision from the context of Latin America” is an introductory section that exposes and discusses the challenge that represents the existence of a wide inequality of urban development between cities and countries of the Latin American and Caribbean region and how these challenges are exacerbated by the pressures of climate change. Specifically, it covers the progress, challenges and current state of urban and climate policies in Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.

The section refers to the wide difference between contexts in the same country, and in the Latin American region. In the case of Ecuador, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) is currently being built. While Mexico, already has its NDC and climate action programs at the state and municipal level, however, these are not yet fully aligned with the national climate change policy, or linked to a monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) system. However, Peru does not have defined its adaptation and mitigation measures for cities yet; like Bolivia, where there are no adaptation strategies.

Due to geographical contrast, social inequality, and weather conditions must be designed and climate change actions that fit the particular needs and opportunity areas of each city must be established. Additionally, some of the region’s challenges are mentioned, such as the lack of institutional capacity and the knowledge transfer between medium and small cities, as well as financial support from the regions or the federal level.

For its part, the original study explains urban guiding concepts, their evolution and application in Germany. It also explains that the urban guiding concepts are principles that are part of the urban development strategic planning. Some of the concepts mentioned are: compact city, less rigid urban landscape, axial city, decentralized model, among others.

The study in its first chapter exposes the climate change challenges that Germany has faced and how it has responded to them from the cities. In its second part, it explains the transition from territorial form and organization to urban concepts. The third chapter focuses on research that has been developed with respect to urban guiding concepts specifically in Germany and Europe. The fourth section takes up some of the concepts and addresses an in-depth analysis of them. Finally, the fifth chapter presents a summary of the study and discusses the adjustment of existing concepts in a context of climate change and presents a possible evolution of them.

Through the translation of this study and the inclusion of the Latin American vision, the aim is to scale up and replicate the implementation of urban guiding concepts to other regions with different contexts, including a perspective that addresses the effects of climate change.

The study is available (in spanish) here.

 

Study: Governing urban concepts and climate change in the practice of urban planning in Germany. A review of recent academic discourse.

Puerto Vallarta presented the results of its municipal diagnosis of adaptation and mitigation to climate change. Participants from the private sector, academia, civil society and government proposed various measures on mitigation and adaptation that will subsequently be strengthened and prioritized to be included in the MCCP. In addition, the participants formulated a long-term vision in the face of climate change.

Through the Workshop for the Identification of Mitigation Measures and Adaptation to Climate Change, the municipality of Puerto Vallarta continues with its activities for the development of its Municipal Climate Change Program (MCCP). The workshop took place in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco on April 10th and 11th, 2019.

 

Photo: GIZ Group photography of those attending the Workshop for the Identification of Mitigation and Adaptation Measures in the face of Climate Change

 

The history of emissions and the projection to 2030 were presented at the workshop. By 2017 the sector that generated most emissions was stationary energy with 896,126 tCO2e (tons of carbon dioxide equivalent), followed by transport with 604,113 tCO2e, and together they account for 89% of total emissions. In addition, the diagnosis indicated that it is expected that by 2030, the municipality’s emissions will increase by 26%. On the other hand, the results of the vulnerability diagnosis project a generalized increase in temperature, and a variation in precipitation, which will potentially affect the productive activities of the region.

Photo: GIZ Round Tables Discussion

After the presentation of the diagnosis, the participants worked in sectoral tables (fisheries, agriculture, forestry, urban and tourism) to identify measures, based on the results of the diagnosis, municipal attributions and coordination with the State of Jalisco and the municipality neighbor of Bahía de Banderas. During the last part of the workshop, the participants expressed their ideas about what should encompass the long-term strategic vision of the MCCP.

The development of the MCCP of this municipality was supported by the Ministry of Environment and Territorial Development (SEMADET) of the State of Jalisco, as well as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, through the projects Vertically Integrated Climate Policies (VICLIM) and Ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change with the tourism sector (ADAPTUR).

Photo: GIZ Rapporteur of the team, exposing their results

The process to develop the MCCP seeks to include key actors for the development of the municipal climate policy, integrating different visions and positions. The above is necessary to mainstream the climate agenda in the different sectors and ensure the implementation of measures that reduce the vulnerability and emissions of GyCEI.

The following steps are: the municipality of Puerto Vallarta with the support of SEMADET and GIZ, will analyze and systematize each of the proposed measures to proceed with a prioritization exercise and a cost-benefit analysis, in order to ensure the feasibility of the implementation of the Program.

 

For more information about the trajectory of Puerto Vallarta in the generation of its MCCP, see the following links:

Development of the Municipal Climate Change Program (PMCC) begins in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco

Portal of Municipal Programs of Climate Change in Mexico

The municipality of Puerto Vallarta recognizes the importance of acting against the effects of climate change and adds to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. Being an economically important municipality and as a tourist destination at a national level, this step means a great advance for the municipality in terms of climate change.

On February 1st, the Start-up Workshop for the Development of the Municipal Climate Change Program (MCCP) of Puerto Vallarta was held to inform and add the participation of institutions from the public, private, academic and social sectors in the development of their MCCP. In the margin of this event, the signing of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy was carried out by the Municipal President of Puerto Vallarta, Arturo Dávalos Peña.

 

Photo: GIZ Signing of the Global Pact of Mayors for Climate and Energy

 

The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy is an international alliance of local and regional authorities that seeks to disseminate and sustain actions to address climate change. It has a focus on generating solutions and reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG), and supports the process of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of emissions of municipalities. Likewise, it takes local governments as key actors and networks of cities and municipalities as indispensable partners in the fulfillment of national and international climate goals. It currently has a presence in 130 countries and covers more than 10% of the world’s population. In Mexico, 39 municipalities are part of the pact.

Through the agreement, municipalities are encouraged to carry out climate actions and a community at the regional and national level is promoted to exchange experiences and strengthen dialogue. In addition, municipalities benefit from three different areas in which they receive support: support in their reporting processes and access to data, research and innovation to strengthen their climate plans, and financing for climate action in the municipalities. With the signing of this agreement in the start-up phase for the development of its MCCP, Puerto Vallarta unites efforts to contribute to national goals.

Ecosystem services are essential for the production of food, drinking water and energy, human health, infrastructure, sustainable urban growth, adaptation to climate change and other benefits. It is vitally important to ensure that ecosystem services are incorporated into urban planning and management, since maintaining them is essential to ensure equitable and sustainable growth and development of urban areas, as well as to mitigate climate change and adaptation to its adverse effects. At the same time, most people and governments cannot afford to ignore the economic and social costs associated with the degradation and loss of ecosystems and their services in the long term.

The Integration of Ecosystem Services urban approach advocates the gradual integration of ecosystem services into urban planning and management. This helps identify priority services to later show how integration can be achieved in practice. Basically, it can be used to:

• Demonstrate the dependence and impacts of urban development goals and measures on ecosystem services,
• Generate information on how to reduce the negative impacts of the urban development process or plan and / or increase the ecosystem services offer on which it depends or to which it affects, and
• Provide concrete options on how to maximize positive links between ecosystem services and urban development processes

This manual aims to help planners recognize the links between nature and urban development, consider the dilemmas associated with development plans and incorporate the opportunities and risks related to ecosystem services in the urban development planning, programs and decisions. It does not consist of a fixed recipe, but is intended to inform and guide decision makers in the design of their own processes to evaluate and consider ecosystem services.

The document helps identify priority services, to later show how integration can be achieved in practice, and provides guidance (including concrete tools and methods) to urban development planners on how to do it.

The manual was developed within the framework of the activities of the Climate Protection in the Mexican Urban Policy Program (CiClim), implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

For more information, see the description of the program here.

Within the framework of the Biodiversity and Sustainable Agrosilvopastoralist Livestock Landscape Project (BioPaSOS), implemented by the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) together with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), research focused on the conservation of biodiversity and the reduction of impacts of climate change on livestock ranches in Jalisco, Campeche and Chiapas, Mexico.

 

Photo: BioPaSOS, CATIE. Silvopastoral system in cattle ranch of Chiapas..

 

In Jalisco, research on the incidence of forest fires determined that the highest probability of occurrence (69%) is located northeast of the sub-basins of the South Coast, and is associated with the increase of secondary vegetation areas during the 2009 to 2013 period, mainly due to the expansion of areas destined to agricultural production.

In Campeche, a study on deforestation drivers and the impact on the loss of biodiversity in livestock landscapes showed that public agricultural and immigration policies have led to changes in land tenure and favored agricultural activities; being the promotion of extensive livestock one of the main drivers of deforestation.

 

Photo: BioPaSOS, CATIE. Creek in cattle ranch.

 

Also, in Campeche the floristic composition was investigated in different land uses of meat-producing ranches, and their relationship with the productivity index. The results showed that the preserved forests have the greatest richness of plant species, and that there is evidence, in at least two of the ranches sampled, that it is possible to conserve biodiversity and maintain high productivity indexes.

Finally, in Chiapas, a study was carried out that characterized the arboreal component and its relationship with productivity in ranches of La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve. It was found that farmers keep trees mainly for the establishment of live fences, generation of shade, poles, among others. In addition, those ranches with greater tree coverage also had the highest economic income.

 

Photo: BioPaSOS, CATIE. Biodiversity in cattle ranch.

 

At the same time, Chiapas studied the cost-effectiveness of silvopastoral technologies, finding that dispersed trees in paddocks, forage banks, energy fodder banks and live fences are the technologies with the greatest mitigation potential, being also more economically efficient in comparison with other technologies. These findings are relevant and of great importance for the design of Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) for cattle in Mexico.

All research has been developed by students of the CATIE master and undergraduate students of the Autonomous University of Chiapas (UNACH) and is an important source of new knowledge for decision making in the context of livestock production and biodiversity conservation.

 

Photo: BioPaSOS, CATIE. Cattle ranch in Chiapas, Mexico.

In light of the forthcoming pilot phase of the Mexican Emissions Trading System (ETS) set to begin in 2020, the project “Preparation of an Emissions Trading System in Mexico” (SiCEM) has been conducting a series of activities which include the development and dissemination of relevant information regarding an ETS.

An Emissions Trading System is a key pillar in the advancement of low-carbon development and the achievement of sectoral Climate targets in Mexico. Its strength resides in that it creates a trust-worthy (with robust Monitoring, Reporting and Verification [MRV] systems) and flexible (allowing companies to decide on the most cost-effective way of achieving compliance) context to reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions.

The first batch of previously published factsheets describes the basic ETS elements in detail, such as the cap or the allowance allocation method. In this series, we dig deeper into the design elements that strengthen the System’s environmental integrity, stability and compliance, as well as those that provide greater flexibility for companies to develop their carbon management strategies.

 

GIZ SiCEM. Factsheets.

 

Among the elements necessary to achieve compliance and strengthen confidence on the ETS lies a robust MRV system, key to obtaining accurate emissions data from participants. Additionally, it is important to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the operation, results and impacts of the instrument, and to revise the ETS design and regulation according to the short-comings and opportunities identified.

The stability and effectiveness of an ETS is linked, among others, to the allowance market price. The reason is as follows: an extremely low price doesn’t create economic incentives for companies to transition to low-carbon processes; on the other hand, an extremely high price could preclude installations from compliance. Risks associated to such price volatility can be managed through price-based or quantity-based price control mechanisms.

Additionally, mechanisms exist which give companies greater flexibility in their carbon management strategy by extending the compliance period. Linking ETS from different jurisdictions increases market size and liquidity, potentially diminishing abrupt allowance market price changes, as well as offers companies a greater number of alternatives to meet their compliance obligations.

A detailed description of the mentioned mechanisms can be found in the present factsheets. These were developd using as a reference information from renown sources like the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP), the Partnership for Market Readiness (PMR) and the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), as well as practical lessons learnt from several jurisdictions with experience implementing an ETS, such as the European Union and the State of California. Additional studies covering a variety of technical issues be published in the “IKI-Alliance Mexico” blog in the coming months.

For more information, please contact us at: Comercio.Emisiones-MX[AT]giz.de

 

Click on the images below to download the publications (in spanish):

 

If the bicycle helps to enforce a more equal social development as well es in the fight against climate change, it is right to ask – Which climate do cyclists face every day on our roads, and how can we make cycling more attractive?

Within the initiative CiClim Cities, cycling for a low-carbon development, five local governments and numerous civil society groups undertook a series of more then 2000 interviews with local cyclists in León, Hermosillo, Mérida, Morelia and Tlaquepaque.

 

Foto: GIZ CiClim. Pollster interviewing a cyclist in Leon, Guanajuato.

 

The results show that an active mobility policy aimed at attracting more users to the bike has a great sustainability potential and not only contributes to a more equal social and economic development:

– Once cyclist, always cyclist: The frequency of bike use is very high, on average 84 % of the interviewees use their bike five days or more per week

– The bicycle facilitates the access to economic and educational opportunities: Most bike users use their bike for getting to work (76%), shopping (46%), leisure (38%) and for getting to school or university (17%)

– The bicycle supports the familiar economy: The average salary of the interviewees is about MXN 5873 (EUR 280), therefore cyclists can realize significant savings compared to other modes of transport.

 

Foto: GIZ CiClim. Cyclist in Hermosillo, Sonora.

 

The results permit to identify priority actions to improve the conditions for cyclists. It has become clear that road safety and cycling infrastructure must be improved in the investigated cities:

– The lack of road safety is the principal barrier for using a bicycle: identified by 48% of the interviewed persons, related as well with the lack of proper infrastructure, stated by 21% as principal barrier.

– Cyclists face collisions or falls of different grade: 34% of the interviewees suffered a collision a have fallen with their bike within the last two years, a period sufficiently short to show the constant risk for cyclists.

The Cyclist Profile Diagnosis is a fundamental tool to gather reliable key information on cycling practice in a city. Its results provide a powerful diagnose for local governments as well as for civil society groups who which to impulse action to increase the use of bicycles. It’s based on a qualitative dimension which allows to get to know from a users’ perspective the motivation to cycle, its frequency of use, principal destinations, difficulties and incentives to continue moving in a sustainable manner.

 

Foto: IMPLAN Mérida. Craftsman on bike in Mérida, Yucatán.

 

The tool has been developed under the umbrella of the project “Climate Protection in the Mexican Urban Policy” (CiClim) in cooperation with the Institute for Transport and Development Policy (ITDP) and the Cyclecities initiative. All material is available on the following link.

The project CiClim is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and forms part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Natural Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

 

More information:

Get to know detailed results in the journal “Alcaldes de México” (Spanish only)

Consult the iNUA Policy Brief “Solution: Cycling” of the Proyecto GIZ-SUTP

Mexican Cities – Pedaling for low carbon development

The Cyclist Profile allows us to collect and analyze information about the practices and uses of bicycles in cities, such as the motivations of people to pedal, the average distance traveled, the most frequent destinations, among others. The results of the profile provide a valuable diagnosis for both governments and organizations that want to promote actions to promote mobility on bicycles, and monitor their effects on the mobility trends of people over time.

The methodology of the Cyclist Profile for Mexican cities was developed within the framework of the “Climate Protection in the Mexican Urban Policy Program” (CiClim) of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policies (ITDP) and the Cyclocities Initiative.

The full report contains, among others:

• The results of the Cyclist Profile in five cities of the Cities & Climate Change program (CiClim)
• The description of the Cyclist Profile methodology (Chapter 2)
• Materials to develop a Cyclist Profile Diagnosis in an editorial version (non-editable): Questionnaire, Scanning sheet, Application guide for pollsters (Attachments)

We make available for free use and adaptation to your local context all materials to develop a diagnosis of the cyclist profile in editable versions:

• Document 1 – Application guide for the questionnaire for interviewers
• Document 2 – Questionnaire for surveys
• Document 3 – Questionnaire digitization sheet
• Document 4 – Database digitization sheet

In the framework of the World Bicycle Day, on June 3rd, 2019, declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations, representatives of the Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), GIZ, and the ITDP presented the “Cyclist Profile” and the new version of the Cyclocities Ranking. For more details see the PRESS RELEASE.

 

 

Death of bees, a risk for Mexico

The vanilla orchid is native to Mexico. The increasing use of pesticides in agriculture is killing the bees that plant it. The activists want to end this trend.

 

One million species of animals and plants are at risk of extinction

That is the conclusion of the first report on biodiversity published by the UN that warns that to save the planet will require a deep change in the production and consumption systems. Analysis of Jasmin Hundorf.

 

This article belongs to Deutsche Welle (DW). Its content is the sole responsibility of the autor.

 

The third exchange workshop for IKI Projects in Mexico brought together more than 100 representatives of IKI projects, with their counterparts from the Mexican government and the Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH, to encourage synergies, create management strategies and identify the contributions of IKI projects to Mexico’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the National Biodiversity Strategy of Mexico (ENBioMex). Representatives from the following institutions implementing IKI projects participated: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Pronatura A.C., Equidad, KfW, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Pronatura Veracruz, The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), World Resources Institute (WRI), Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), Pronatura Sur, Danish Energy Agency (DEA) and Transparencia Mexicana.

Over the last few years, Mexico has become known as a dynamic and committed actor in terms of its climate change and biodiversity policies on a national and international level. The main national policy instrument for confronting climate change is the General Law on Climate Change (LGCC), which includes mitigation and adaptation measures with a long-term, participative and global perspective. Similarly, Mexico has a National Climate Change Strategy (ENCC) (2010-2020-2040 vision) and has presented its Mid-Century Strategy to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). For its part, the National Biodiversity Strategy of Mexico (ENBioMex) is the principal guiding document for the sustainable preservation, restoration and management of biodiversity in the country.

The International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) is a fundamental piece of both climate finance and of its commitments in the frame of the Convention on Biological Diversity. In Mexico, the BMU has assigned the interface function to the “Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance” project, with the aim of encouraging exchange between IKI projects in the country and providing information regarding the portfolio. The former includes the organization of annual exchanges between IKI projects, as well as the management of this blog and the IKI Mexico Alliance newsletter about the impacts and activities of the projects.

 

 

As part of the IKI knowledge management strategy, the “IKI Projects Exchange Workshops” have been established to analyze how the activities of IKI projects contribute to compliance of the NDC and the ENBioMex in the country, define knowledge management strategies, incentivize cooperation, inform project operators about the role and function of the interface project, and show how projects contribute to priority topics for the Mexican government in the areas of mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and REDD+.

In his opening words, Álvaro Luna, chief advisor to the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance, indicated that there are currently 38 projects (11 bilateral, 6 regional and 21 global) that have presented accelerated growth in the country. In this respect, he reaffirmed the need to create synergies in order to make the most of available resources and intensify knowledge management. Furthermore, Anna Topp, responsible for cooperation with Mexico for the IKI secretariat (ZUG), emphasized the importance of the blog and the IKI Mexico Alliance newsletter for learning about the activities taking place in the country and encouraging cooperation between all projects.

 

 

On the first day of activities, the new IKI projects were presented: Smart Coasts, Soot-Free Low-Carbon City Fleets, The Climate Footprint Project, Strategic Partnership for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (SPIPA), The Nitric Acid Climate Action Group (NACAG), Gender into Urban Climate Change Initiative (GUCCI), NAMA Facility – NAMA for sugar mills, NAMA Facility – Energy Efficiency in SMEs as a Contribution to a Low Carbon Economy.

In addition, in a run-through of lessons learnt, the implementers of older IKI projects: Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance, Supporting Initiative 20 by 20: A country-led effort to bring 20 million hectares of degraded land in Latin America and the Caribbean into restoration by 2020, NAMA for sustainable housing in Mexico, LAC Green Finance Facility to mobilize private investment in mitigation actions and low-carbon and sustainable business models through NDBs, Biodiversity and Sustainable Agrosilvopastoralist Livestock Landscapes (BioPaSOS), Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the Mexican Agricultural Sector (IKI-IBA), Development of a regional system to monitor biodiversity and climate change (Selva Maya), Bonn Challenge Barometer of Progress, Implementing Strategies for Regional Transitions to Low-Emissions Rural Development, exchanged experiences regarding the main opportunities and challenges and identified opportunities for cooperation with other IKI projects.

On the second morning, the aim was to reveal the mechanisms for effective communication IKI project impacts. In the afternoon, Iris Jiménez Castillo, Deputy General Director of the International Affairs unit at the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), gave a welcome to her counterparts; the representatives of their Mexican government counterparts, including SEMARNAT, Mexican Ministry for Agrarian, Land and Urban Development (SEDATU), Mexican Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), Jalisco Ministry of Environment and Territorial Development (SEMADET), Mexican National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), Mexican National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO), Mexican National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), Mexican National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP), Instituted Trusts in Relation to Agriculture (FIRA), Mexican National Bank of Public Works and Services (BANOBRAS), Mexican National Housing Commission (CONAVI), Federal Mortgage Company (SHF) and the Tlaxcala Council, joined them.

 

 

In her speech to the participants, Claudia Kirschning, Advisor to the IKI Interface, presented the current panorama of IKI projects in Mexico, announcing that there are currently 22 mitigation projects being implemented, eight to do with biodiversity and four adaptation and REDD+ projects, respectively. Likewise, she revealed that the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is starting up 16 projects; IUCN, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), two projects; CATIE, DEA, United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), WRI, ICCT, German-Mexican Chamber of Industry and Commerce (CAMEXA), German Investment Corporation (DEG), Humboldt Viadrina Governance-Platform, World Bank, Pronatura A.C., Pronatura Sur, Pronatura Veracruz, Earth Innovation Institute, Gender CC – Women for Climate Justice, The Climate Group, IADB, KfW banking group and OroVerde initiating one project each.

In terms of their counterparts, SEMARNAT has 19 projects; CONABIO, 6 projects; Mexican Ministry of Energy (SENER), 5 projects; CONAFOR and CONANP, 3 projects; Mexican National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE), INECC, SADER, SEDATU, SHF, two projects; Mexican Chemical Manufacturers Association (ANIQ), BANOBRAS, Mexican National Water Commission (CONAGUA), CONAVI, FIRA, Metropolitan Institute of Planning of the Metropolitan Area of ​​Guadalajara (IMEPLAN),
National Financial (NAFIN), Mexican Ministry of Tourism (SECTUR), Yucatán Ministry of Sustainable Development (SDS), Quintana Roo Ministry of Ecology and Environment (SEMA), Baja California Ministry of Environmental Protection (SPABC), Chiapas Ministry of the Environment and Natural History (SEMAHN), SEMADET each have one project.

 

 

Contributions of IKI projects to the NDC and ENBioMex

In her welcome speech to the participants, Sandra Guzmán Luna, General Director of Climate Change Policies at SEMARNAT, invited them to make their efforts visible, incentivizing cooperation and multiplying actions in the area. In the same way, she suggested that the National Climate Change Strategy (ENCC) is being reinforced due to the need to strengthen and accelerate actions, identifying the main lines of action on a subnational level, reinforcing transparency and including a social focus in the plans. She highlighted the main challenges to comply with, but also that we must work on how to confront them.

 

 

Later on, in different work groups, the representatives of IKI projects and their Mexican government counterparts examined the main challenges and opportunities of collaboration in order to comply with the NDC and ENBioMex. They identified important lines of action between both parties and agreed to continue incentivizing the mainstreaming of actions in order to have a bigger field of action.

As identified by each work group, some of the contributions of IKI projects to the NDC and ENBioMex include:

Adaptation:
•  Design and application of methodologies to identify portfolios of climate change measures
•  Skills strengthening between key actors to plan activities related to climate change
•  Incorporation of adaptation criteria for public investment projects
•  Proposals for governing mechanisms to attract additional financing

Mitigation:
•  The elaboration of an emissions registry platform
•  Strengthening of global and regional networks for public financing
•  Transparency regarding subnational government contributions
•  Promotion of regional cooperation

Biodiversity and REDD+:
•  Knowledge generation regarding pressures, use and management of biodiversity
•  Promotion of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA)
•  Skills strengthening with a gender focus
•  Promotion and recovery of traditional knowledge and practices

As a result of the workshop, the participants agreed to strengthen their exchange of information and experiences, increase cooperation in all possible areas, continue promotion of exchange workshops to analyze the reach of their projects and update themselves regarding actions happening within other organizations.

The third exchange workshop for IKI projects took place on the April 29 and 30, 2019 at the SEMARNAT offices in Mexico City.

 

More information regarding the first and second workshops.

 

Documentation about third workshop

The Learning Networks of Energy Efficiency (EE) or Energy Management Systems (EMS) are a collaborative space where different actors meet to exchange experiences with the aim of improving their energy performance under an experiential learning model. The concept has been successfully implemented in countries such as Switzerland and Germany, where the initiative “Energy Efficiency Learning Networks” (Initiative Energieeffizienz-Netzwerke, IEEN, for its acronym in German) has been created with companies, and since 2015, has also integrated the municipal level.

In Mexico, within the framework of the National Program for Energy Management Systems (PRONASGEn) 2014-2018, the National Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE) with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH has laid the foundations for the implementation of learning networks in the country. In this regard, they developed in 2016 various manuals and guides on the subject and the implementation of several learning networks with the private initiative in different productive sectors, as well as at the municipal level, has been carried out with great success. The implementation of learning networks is an opportunity not only for the implementation of measures that lead to energy savings, but also for the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) by the participating entities.

By 2019, three municipal learning networks have been implemented in Mexico in the states of Coahuila, Aguascalientes and Morelos, where 30 municipalities have participated. These first experiences have proven to be very useful in energy management and in providing environmental co-benefits such as the reduction of GHG emissions, as well as the power to replicate them in other municipalities. However, the municipal learning networks show differences and a different level of complexity when compared to those in purely business contexts. In response to these particularities, CONUEE and GIZ developed the document “Strategic orientations for the implementation of Energy Efficiency Learning Networks and Energy Management Systems at the Municipal Level”. It takes up the experiences of municipal learning networks in Mexico, Germany and Brazil and seeks to support local actors in overcoming the challenges that a municipal learning network faces in order to successfully implement the model and, ultimately, to introduce the methodology as a means to improve the energy performance of the municipalities.

Naucalpan, State of Mexico. On April 4th, the “Urban Solid Waste Energetic Utilization and Valorization” International Forum was successfully held, bringing together the key stakeholders of the sector, generating networks and promoting the exchange of knowledge and relevant experiences for the urban solid waste (USW) energy use and recovery.

The event was attended by more than 350 participants (35% women and 65% men), among which were actors from the local and federal government, private sector and academia. The objective to generate a common understanding on the challenges and opportunities involved in the USW energy use and recovery was achieved, dialogue was established to disseminate the implementation of sustainable policies of USW integral management that can contribute to setting goals for national and international sustainable development and climate change combat and that, at the same time, are viable from the political, economic, financial and social point of view.

The Forum was inaugurated by Patricia Elisa Durán Reveles, Constitutional President of the Municipality of Naucalpan de Juárez, Eduardo Parra Ramos, Director of Integral Waste Management of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), Álvaro Zurita, Director of the EnRes Program and Responsible in Mexico of FELICITY of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, Thomas Frankiewicz, Leader of International Programs of Biogas of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by Jorge Rescala Pérez, Secretary of Environment of the Government of the State of Mexico.

 

Photo: Municipality of Naucalpan de Juárez, 2019. Inauguration Panel

 

In a series of panels followed by Q&A sessions, several topics were discussed in terms of urban solid waste, such as: implementation of policies at the international, national, and local levels; national and international best practices; technical and legal viability of USW energy recovery projects; environmental and climatic benefits and co-benefits; and financing mechanisms.

The Forum was held at the WTC Mexiquense and was jointly organized by the Municipality of Naucalpan de Juárez, the EPA, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (CCAC) and the GIZ through the EnRes and FELICITY programs. With 20 international and national expert speakers, the agenda of the forum was planned to promote the importance of the articulation of the three levels of government, the active participation of the private sector, civil society and the direct responsibility of the Municipalities to achieve USW management sustainability and successful energy recovery projects.

 

Photo: Municipality of Naucalpan de Juárez, 2019. Group photography of Forum participants

 

EnRes is the urban waste energy use program commissioned by the Federal Ministry forof Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany and in cooperation with partner institutions, the GIZ introduces the use of energy as a sustainable option for the recovery of energy from of urban waste in Mexico. For more information, see here.

FELICITY is the initiative implemented by GIZ; with the support of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) of Germany that provides technical assistance in the preparation of projects focused on low carbon infrastructure in cities. For more information, see here.