The project responds to the Paris Agreement’s objective of aligning financial flows with global climate goals by developing and disseminating assessment frameworks for alignment with 2°C scenarios to at least 100 financial institutions with investments in emerging-market countries, as well as by developing an open-source framework that can be adopted by other actors.
The project will enable policymakers to measure the alignment of their capital markets with a 2°C scenario and gain access to an accountability framework for domestic investors. In addition, the project supports the development of an open-source tool for analyzing climate change-related financial risks.
The tools and outreach activities developed over the course of the project will create the necessary infrastructure for investors and banks in partner countries to measure, free of charge, the alignment of their portfolios with a 2°C scenario and access climate risk assessment tools. At least 40 risk assessments for partner countries are expected to be provided free of charge under the project, along with 100 alignment tests against a 2°C scenario. The project is part of the IKI COVID-19 response package.
The project builds on the German government’s support for IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) and responds to requests from developing countries for UNDP to play a role in capacity building for IPBES. This capacity building will contribute to the effective management of biodiversity, ecosystems, and synergies in the implementation of the Rio Conventions for the promotion of sustainable development.
The objective of the project is to help developing countries address science-policy issues highlighted by IPBES by strengthening capacities at the national and regional levels in order to: 1) apply the results of IPBES assessments, as identified by the BES capacity development network (managed by UNDP) and through tripartite dialogue events bringing together scientists, policymakers, and users to address urgent issues. 2) Carry out national assessments of scientific findings on policy issues, in addition to thematic and regional IPBES assessments. This is intended to be achieved through tailored country support, centres of excellence, and the SGA network under the coordination of the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC).
Initial situation
Through the Energy Transition, Mexico has promoted the diversification of its energy mix, as well as energy efficiency measures that contribute to achieving national climate targets. The goal is for clean energy to account for 35 percent of the electricity generation mix by 2024, in accordance with Mexico’s Energy Transition Law.
Likewise, with the reform of the General Climate Change Law in June 2018, Mexico aligned the commitments undertaken within the framework of the Paris Agreement on climate change through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which represent the intention to reduce greenhouse gas and compound emissions by 22 percent by 2030 unconditionally, or by up to 36 percent conditionally upon technology transfers and the establishment of an international carbon price, among other factors.
Objective
The main actors in Mexico’s climate and energy policy are equipped to initiate or implement policy and institutional measures that improve collaboration between the energy and climate sectors. In this way, Mexico can strengthen the energy sector’s contribution to the country’s climate objectives.
Approach
The project is implemented in the context of the transformation of Mexico’s energy system and seeks to build bridges between the energy and climate change sectors and to harmonize climate and energy policies. To this end, the project advises the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) on technical and process-related issues at the climate-energy interface.
Coordination between climate and energy policies at the national level improves when strategic measures are implemented. In addition, the project promotes the development of regulatory instruments and economic incentives to advance the convergence of climate and energy policy. National information systems are also improved to achieve greater integration of energy and climate data and variables. This project facilitates the creation of improved framework conditions to promote investments that support development and climate protection in Mexico through the energy sector. The experiences gathered in Mexico are discussed in dialogue with international experts, and the knowledge and lessons learned are shared with other countries. The private sector is also included to promote the transfer of climate protection technologies related to the energy sector.
Areas of work
CONECC is working on various topics, including:
Social and economic co-benefits of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Mexico
The project seeks to quantify the social and economic co-benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency at the federal and state levels in Mexico. To this end, a quantification of the social and economic co-benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency in Mexico was developed based on three case studies at the subnational level (Yucatán, Oaxaca, Mexico City, and Baja California Sur) to promote their implementation and strengthen the achievement of Mexico’s NDC.
Next, the project will conduct a specific analysis of the co-benefits of existing projects in energy efficiency or renewable energy with the aim of developing a co-benefits quantification tool adapted to the Mexican context. At the same time, the project is conducting training for decision-makers on integrating a co-benefits perspective into climate, energy, and social policy agendas, accompanied by a communication strategy to mainstream the topic of co-benefits and create greater impact.
Process for updating Mexico’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC): the contribution of climate action to society’s well-being.
Technical support is provided to the Government of Mexico in the process of updating its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, in order to submit an update of its climate commitments, which must adhere to the principle of progression compared with the current NDC and reflect the highest possible level of ambition.
In this context, the CONECC project supports SEMARNAT in integrating the mitigation potential of sustainable energy measures, mainly energy efficiency, to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and black carbon (BC) emissions. This work has been developed through two main activity areas. On the one hand, the systematization of information, energy-climate modeling, and estimation of mitigation potential; and on the other hand, support for the social participation process, which has been fundamental in gathering and integrating the voices of the various sectors involved in the process.
Training workshop on energy-climate modeling in LEAPSector workshops with the Federal Public Administration: prioritization of mitigation measuresPublic participation through an online survey for the NDC update
Development and dissemination of carbon budgets and decarbonization pathways for the energy sector
The project seeks to increase climate ambition and promote climate-energy convergence in Mexico through the estimation of carbon budgets and the development of decarbonization pathways for the energy sector. Based on a methodology developed in 2019 together with the Mexico Climate Initiative (ICM), it currently aims to estimate carbon budgets and generate decarbonization pathways at the subnational level, beginning with the states of Jalisco and Yucatán.
Carbon budgets seek to be aligned with scenarios in which the increase in global average temperature is limited to 2°C or 1.5°C by the end of the century. Decarbonization Pathways, meanwhile, will consist of a portfolio of actions that, if implemented, align the sector’s emissions trajectory with the estimated budget, with their implications carefully analyzed and discussed with key stakeholders in each state.
Development of a technological innovation hub for renewable energy and energy efficiency focused on climate action in the State of Querétaro
Through this project, technical support is provided to the Government of the State of Querétaro through the Ministry of Sustainable Development (SEDESU) and in coordination with LiCore A.C. and the Querétaro State Energy Cluster, in order to conceptualize and establish an innovation hub that promotes technological solutions and innovative business models in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Since January 2020, the CONECC project has coordinated with SEDESU the process of establishing the Hub, creating a Working Group with key stakeholders, including start-ups, large companies, business associations, state authorities, and universities-research centers to facilitate the implementation process. Progress is being made on the legal establishment of the Hub, the definition of an initial project portfolio, and the intervention methodology. The Hub is expected to begin operations in the second half of 2020.
Promoting technological innovation for the energy transition at the local level strengthens the frameworks for advancing local climate action in the energy sector. Accordingly, one of the objectives of this project is to identify good practices derived from strengthening local innovation communities in order to promote business models and technologies that foster the decarbonization of the electricity sector, by replicating and disseminating Querétaro’s experience in other states and thereby supporting its scaling to other levels of government in Mexico. In this regard, the publication of a Manual for establishing an innovation hub at the subnational level is planned.
Hub presentation event. August 2019Hub outreach workshop. UTEQ, October 2019Working Group session. Nuqleo, March 2020
Study of the climate, socioeconomic, and public health impacts of the National Electric Mobility Strategy
The project quantifies the expected impacts of the National Electric Mobility Strategy in terms of climate, energy, social, economic, and public health aspects.
The modeling of impacts is carried out based on a review of national and international literature and consultations with key stakeholders in the field of electromobility from the public sector, private sector, and civil society. A monitoring tool is also being developed to track impacts once the strategy enters its implementation phase.
Digitalization of the electricity sector: an opportunity for climate protection?
This project seeks to identify the main digitalization actions in Mexico’s electricity sector that could potentially contribute to mitigating emissions associated with the energy sector and analyze their potential contribution to climate action. The analysis focuses on three areas: smart grids, smart markets, and energy efficiency.
In 2018, the CONECC project coordinated, together with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, a study tour to Germany to exchange practices and perspectives on digitalization for climate protection, and the International Forum “Digitalization of the electricity sector: an opportunity for climate protection?” was held. As a result of both processes, the report “Bits and bytes for CO2 savings. The role of digitalization in the energy sector for climate protection in Mexico and Germany” is being prepared.
The Selva Maya, located in the border region between Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala, is a tropical forest region characterized by its rich biodiversity. Today, the protected area of the Selva Maya is already under considerable ecological pressure, resulting in biodiversity loss and climate change impacts that threaten the livelihoods of the local population. The objective of this project is to establish a regional system for monitoring biodiversity and climate change across national borders in order to systematically quantify the impacts of climate change and socioeconomic drivers on biodiversity. In the future, the monitoring system can serve as a tool to develop, implement, and assess new protection and adaptation strategies together with the local population. The project contributes directly to the implementation of the objectives of the CBD.
Systematization of the implementation and impacts of the project’s monitoring lines “Promoting biodiversity and climate change monitoring in the Selva Maya region”
The Alvarado Lagoon System (ALS) is a mosaic of wetlands covering more than 314,000 hectares (ha), including mangroves, seasonal water bodies, and halophytic communities. The ALS is of great ecological and economic importance to the country. It contains more than 14,000 hectares of mangrove forests that provide strategic ecosystem services to the population; for example, mangroves protect communities from hurricanes, tropical storms, and the intensity of flooding.
Considering the above, NGOs, the federal government, and the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR) have invested in restoring the mangrove ecosystem. In many cases, the results of these actions have not been satisfactory, mainly due to errors in site selection and inadequate techniques for promoting ecosystem regeneration. During the 2010–2013 period alone, Pronatura recorded the deforestation of more than 2,000 hectares, equivalent to a loss of 15% of the mangrove cover. If this trend continues, all mangroves in the area could be destroyed within 20 years. In addition, it should be noted that federal, state, and municipal governments have identified a high level of vulnerability of the population to climate change.
Climate change adaptation processes must generate economic alternatives for local communities. Strict national legislation protecting mangroves has certainly had positive effects on their conservation at the national level; however, in the project area, these effects have not been as expected. The population cannot use mangrove timber, which has led to the expansion of cattle ranches into mangrove areas without sustainable management. Even fishing communities have adopted small-scale livestock farming as a complement to their local economy.
Therefore, the project aims to create the technical, legal, and market foundations for a mangrove timber economy. The objective is to build a deeply rooted social base with strong self-management capacities. This can be achieved by transforming the traditional “protectionist” conservation strategy. For this reason, the project seeks to establish a regional development strategy based on the productivity and sustainable management of mangrove timber.
Project objectives and implementation progress
In order to turn the threat of illegal logging and mangrove degradation into an opportunity for sustainable forestry development in the area, the project began by characterizing mangrove forests that will be subject to legal and sustainable timber management. This characterization and assessment provide the project with the ecological and technical elements needed to determine the potential of mangroves for timber management.
This IKI project aims to have a catalytic effect in the region. To date, the following progress has been achieved:
Restoration and forest management. Currently reaching 1,500 hectares under sustainable management, 50 hectares restored, and 1,300 m of channels rehabilitated, benefiting approximately 1,000 hectares.
Training and exchange of experiences. More than 80 stakeholders.
Visibility and competitiveness of mangrove timber. Next stage for 2018–2019.
Restoration and forest management.
One of the project’s main objectives is for the communities involved to carry out landscape restoration using a mangrove forest management approach supported by technical capacities and legal frameworks. In this regard, Private Conservation Areas and forest management units are being established on agreed-upon lands (Management Units for Wildlife Conservation – UMA). The legal documentation required for certification has been compiled for one community (a 500-hectare ejido) and one private landowner (1,000 hectares). In this way, their lands will be placed under sustainable management, incorporating selected mangrove areas for forest management, conservation areas, and degraded mangrove areas for ecological restoration. A sustainable management plan is therefore being developed for the properties, including technical components such as detailed maps (1:10,000) using satellite imagery and photographs taken with unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) over several years.
In addition, sustainable forest management plans are being developed through a participatory process. Communities participate through interviews and workshops using participatory mapping, diagrams, and other methods adapted to stakeholder profiles. To date, the technical team together with local communities has restored 50 hectares using a restoration technique based on “chinampas,” which has proven to be the most successful in the area. Pronatura Veracruz Region developed this technique by recovering the ancestral Mesoamerican concept of the “chinampa,” constructing small mounds of mud with organic matter and cattail (Typha domingensis). The “chinampas” are one-square-meter islets distributed throughout the landscape, raising the soil level so that propagules can develop without being drowned by rising water levels during the rainy season. To complement restoration efforts, hydrological connectivity has been restored at key sites in the lagoon system through the clearing of 1,300 meters of channels, affecting a buffer area of approximately 1,000 hectares.
Training and exchange of experiences.
As proposed by the project, the strategy must be supported by strengthening local capacities. Based on an assessment conducted in 2017, theoretical and practical training on technical, environmental, and economic aspects was planned for 2018 with communities, private landowners, and local government. As a result, by the first quarter of 2018, more than 50 local participants had been involved in both forestry and environmental topics.
Regarding forest management, the training will enable forest plans to be monitored and implemented and allow communities to renew their federal timber harvesting authorization each year. At the technical level, participants will be able to obtain forest inventory information and data on the structural characteristics of mangrove forests, as well as calculate regeneration rates and annual extraction rates by species. Communities have also received training in kiln construction and charcoal production using sustainable practices, making use of leftover mangrove wood and improving livelihoods and the local economy.
In addition to the work with communities in the ALS, a specialized course was held in 2017 with the objective of creating and strengthening networks in Mexico and Latin America. Through a combination of theoretical and practical activities, key stakeholders from the region were brought together to exchange experiences and improve project management, sustainable forest management, and ecological restoration. From August to December, 34 participants from different sectors—government, academia, NGOs, and the private sector—representing various regions of Mexico, Colombia, and El Salvador received training. The “Third Diploma Course in Ecological Restoration and Silvicultural Management of Mangroves” offered extensive online content with 58 lectures delivered by experts from 15 countries. In addition, an intensive practical week was held in the ALS, where participants learned about the restoration process implemented by Pronatura based on more than ten years of experience.
Visibility and competitiveness of legal mangrove timber.
The next steps are focused on processing and adding value to mangrove timber. We will develop a marketing plan for mangrove timber at the local and national levels. This document will also examine wood quality for specific uses and durability, as well as key elements, potential buyers, points of sale, and the potential of niche markets.
Project outlook
The legalization of mangrove timber production, accompanied by sustainable forest management, will provide economic and productive opportunities for inhabitants of the project area. Fishing is currently not a profitable activity for the local population; therefore, economic pressure on mangroves is very high, including extensive logging and wildlife extraction. Even illegally, mangrove timber is transported from forests to cattle ranches and other markets. The project will transform forest management so that it becomes profitable and sustainable, supporting the long-term survival of mangroves.
It is possible to halt mangrove deforestation if their direct economic value contributes to improving the quality of life of local inhabitants. The vast majority of communities involved in the project depend on the benefits provided by mangroves; therefore, ecosystem conservation and restoration are urgently needed to reduce their vulnerability in the context of climate change.
Objective and Activities
GenderCC – Women for Climate Justice works with a consortium of experienced organizations in India, Indonesia, South Africa, and Mexico to integrate social and gender issues into urban climate policy. Activities include capacity building for national organizations; training “gender and climate change advocates” in pilot cities; developing and applying a method to assess and monitor city policies in terms of gender sensitivity, inclusion, and social and environmental impacts; identifying key actions for low-carbon and sustainable urban development; outreach and advocacy strategies for local governments; implementing pilot actions and campaigns; and developing training materials and an online learning course.
The partners participate in an intensive process of joint work and learning, including evaluation and dissemination. In 12 pilot cities, local capacities are strengthened to increase women’s participation and introduce concrete recommendations for incorporating gender-sensitive strategies into urban policy.
The Mobilizing the Co-benefits of Renewable Energy for Climate Action (COBENEFITS) project cooperates with national governments, local governments, and various climate action stakeholders in different countries with the objective of identifying and enabling the multiple co-benefits of early climate action. The project supports efforts to optimize Nationally Determined Contributions in order to successfully fulfill the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Agenda while enabling a just transition. COBENEFITS facilitates mutual learning and capacity building among decision-makers, the scientific community, and civil society organizations through interconnected measures: co-benefit studies, online and in-person training, and policy dialogue sessions that link climate action with social and economic development.
The main COBENEFITS activities in Mexico are as follows:
Development and delivery of multiple co-benefit training modules (COBENEFITS trainings).
Strengthening capacities for communicating climate action and climate opportunities.
Including Mexico in international dialogues related to studies aimed at improving the social performance of renewable energy.
Mexico’s continued participation in international co-benefits dialogues.
Initial situation
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the European Investment Bank (EIB) established a city advisory facility to support the preparation of sustainable, climate-friendly infrastructure projects and realize their emissions reduction potential in the energy, transport, waste and water sectors. The project “Financing Energy for Low-carbon Investment – Cities Advisory Facility” (FELICITY) bridges the gap between urban development planning and infrastructure project financing by providing tailored support to financial intermediaries and cities so that their low-carbon infrastructure projects can become bankable through loans provided by the EIB.
FELICITY offers:
Demand-driven support to identify and prepare bankable low-carbon infrastructure projects;
Capacity development within municipalities;
Policy advice on framework conditions for international climate finance;
Knowledge management and the development of relevant tools and methodologies.
For more information: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/52753.html
The Climate Footprint Project supports state and regional governments in improving their greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and tracking efforts. Regional GHG inventories provide the level of detail needed for local policymakers to understand their emission sources and trends and improve the design of their emission reduction strategies.
The project provides direct support and training to Pernambuco (Brazil), Chhattisgarh and Telangana (India), Baja California, Jalisco and Yucatán (Mexico), and KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa). Through peer learning, the project will subsequently inspire improved emissions management in other governments within the Under2 Coalition. The project runs from February 2019 to February 2021.
1. Provide a tailored package of technical assistance and training Following consultations with regional stakeholders, the project will provide regions with tailored technical assistance and training to improve their capacities and knowledge of Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, while identifying additional opportunities for emissions tracking and reduction. 2. Align regional MRV systems with national and local efforts to promote integrated climate action Dialogues will be organized among national, state, regional and local governments to help align climate action across all levels of government in Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa. Guidance documents will be developed to align regional MRV systems with their national and local counterparts. 3. Exchange knowledge and replicate good practices internationally through the Under2 Coalition By promoting peer learning through a series of knowledge products, webinars, online forums and an e-learning course, the consortium partners will disseminate lessons learned from this project to other states and regions within the Under2 Coalition.
Importance of the Project
States and regions are key to addressing climate change and have set ambitious targets; however, many lack the technical resources and expertise to track and measure their emissions. Through this project, states and regions will be better equipped to make informed decisions for their emission reduction plans. This will also help them demonstrate their contributions to national government targets and inspire further climate action.
The Climate Group seeks to accelerate climate action to achieve a world with global warming below 1.5°C and greater prosperity for all. The Climate Group acts as the Secretariat of the Under2 Coalition of state and regional governments committed to keeping the global temperature increase well below 2°C. The Climate Group is responsible for leading the implementation of this project and sharing lessons learned with members of the Under2 Coalition and other state and regional governments.
Ricardo plc is a strategic and environmental consultancy with more than 30 years of experience in compiling GHG inventories and MRV systems and has helped more than 15 countries prepare their first NDCs, supporting three of them in implementation. Ricardo will lead the delivery of MRV support and provide tailored training and technical assistance on MRV for GHG inventories and mitigation actions in the selected regions.
CDP is an international non-profit organization that encourages companies, cities, states and regions to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. The selected regions will be encouraged to disclose their annual emissions data throughout the project, enabling them to measure and manage progress and ensure continuous improvement beyond the project.
The Greenhouse Gas Management Institute (GHGMI) is a non-profit organization dedicated to training future experts in the principles, concepts and techniques required to transparently manage and account for GHG emissions. GHGMI will develop an online learning course for state and regional officials that will enable them to independently design, implement and assess relevant GHG MRV systems that inform local policy decisions.
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability is the leading global network of more than 1,500 cities and regions committed to building a sustainable future. ICLEI will provide guidance to the four countries selected for the project, exploring a vertical integration approach to climate action through dialogues and capacity building on multilevel governance and reporting.
To learn more, visit the Under2 Coalition website and read about the Capacity Building workshops in two of the three regions selected for the project in Mexico: Yucatán and Baja California.
The project contributes to translating political commitment to advance bilateral dialogues and cooperation in the field of climate action into concrete interventions aligned with the level of ambition for global action established in the Paris Agreement. It focuses on strengthening policy collaboration in four areas: mitigation policy instruments, mid-century strategies/renewal of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, monitoring and reporting, and adaptation planning.
By promoting the implementation of NDCs in G20 countries through exchange and collaboration among these major economies, benchmarks will be established within international economic and political relations for low-emission and climate-resilient development. These benchmarks will create incentives for G20 countries to comply with the Paris Agreement, thereby raising their ambition and encouraging more countries to follow their example. The European Union supports this effort with its own funding (€16.5 million).
Initial situation
Building on the success achieved during the first phase of the project, the Water and Wastewater Companies for Climate Mitigation (WaCCliM) programme continues for the 2020–2022 period with the main objective of supporting the water and sanitation sector in implementing the NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution), mainstreaming mitigation and adaptation approaches, and continuing awareness-raising and capacity development among water and wastewater utilities. The programme is implemented by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) in collaboration with the International Water Association (IWA). For this programme extension, the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) serves as the direct counterpart for 2019–2022, accompanied by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). The programme is commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the International Climate Initiative (IKI).
The main objectives of this new phase are: 1) for water and wastewater utilities to contribute to a low-carbon and climate-resilient sector, 2) to mainstream approaches and strategies for both climate change mitigation and adaptation focused on the urban water cycle, and 3) to increase the level of ambition in meeting the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), in which utilities in the sector are key actors.
The programme will continue its lines of work on stakeholder awareness, capacity development, strengthening local water and wastewater utilities, and promoting the use and improvement of the Energy Performance and Carbon Emissions Assessment and Monitoring Tool (ECAM). Technical support will also continue for the implementation of measures in utilities, such as energy efficiency assessments, identification of water losses in distribution systems, and reduction of direct methane emissions from wastewater treatment, among others.
For this new phase, the programme seeks to incorporate innovative elements such as a digital technology component, climate risk assessments for water and wastewater utilities together with the corresponding prioritization of measures, the inclusion of climate change adaptation in capacity development within utilities, and the mainstreaming of co-benefits resulting from increased resilience.
The aim is to promote more efficient processes and technologies among service providers in order to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this way, the project also helps improve climate change mitigation strategies for water and wastewater utilities.
For more information, we invite you to visit the following WaCCliM programme websites and social media channels, or contact WaCCliM’s advisor for Mexico, Bianca Corona: bianca.corona@giz.de
The Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) is a demand-driven advisory facility. It combines the financial expertise of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) with the technical expertise of GIZ and the Agence de l’Environnement et de la Maîtrise de l’Energie (ADEME). The objective is to improve the prerequisites for financing large-scale energy efficiency projects in the building sector. PEEB supports the further development of energy efficiency policies to increase energy efficiency in the building sector and the creation of incentive systems to mobilize private investment.
Specific projects are developed to the point where they are ready for financing, while the actors involved, such as ministries, local banks, and project developers, are enabled to carry out their tasks during the different stages of the development process. The results will be presented as practical examples within the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction (GABC) and other relevant networks.
