IKI Alliance, Author at CLIMATE.BLUE

The Biodiversity and Sustainable Agrosilvopastoral Livestock Landscapes project, known as BioPaSOS, implemented the methodological approach of Field Schools (ECA) as the main tool in the processes of strengthening the capacities of producer families, technicians and institutions linked to the project, which is implemented in territories of intervention in the states of Jalisco, Chiapas and Campeche, in Mexico.

BioPaSOS recently published the book Methodological Guides to Facilitate Learning Sessions in Field Schools, which presents 18 methodological guides prepared by project technicians and partners, to support the facilitation of group learning sessions.

Link to the publication: https://repositorio.catie.ac.cr/handle/11554/11359.

Meanwhile, correctly implementing silvopastoral systems and other good practices on cattle ranches will now be an easier task for livestock producing families in Latin America and the Caribbean: thanks to the Biodiversity and Sustainable Agrosilvopastoral Livestock Landscapes project, known as BioPaSOS , there is now a Toolbox to Promote the Development of Sustainable Livestock, which you can consult and follow.

The toolbox contains teaching and learning material designed for a public interested in implementing silvopastoral systems, or in adopting other good livestock practices on their ranches or farms to increase their production and income, and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in rancher landscapes.

Link to the publication: https://repositorio.catie.ac.cr/handle/11554/9978.

Find more information about BioPaSOS and its work at https://www.biopasos.com/.

The five virtual sessions that made up this course were held in October and November 2021, with the aim of strengthening technical capacities for the design of marginal abatement cost curves (MACC curves) for industrial sectors, who participate in the Emissions Trading System (ETS).

This event arose as a coordination between the 2030 Agenda Climate Change Working Group and the GIZ SiCEM project, born of the need to highlight the benefits of a correct interpretation of the MACC curves, since these allow– through a graphical representation –the identification of optimal mitigation measures for each organisation, according to their scope and technical-economic limitations.

The theoretical-practical classes had an average capacity of 30 participants from sectors regulated by the Mexican Emissions Trading System, who had the opportunity to immerse themselves in fundamental economic concepts for the correct understanding of the MACC curves, and other practical cases. These sessions also included interactive spaces that encouraged collaboration among attendees, in order to find solutions to the proposed exercises. The course work resulted in very enriching analyses, showing that the participants supported the knowledge brought forward at the event.

The consulting team of Carbon Trust Mexico was in charge of the sessions and, thanks to its expertise on the subject, it was possible to guide the participants in the implementation of the MACC curves, with examples in each of their industrial sectors.

The interest of the industrial sector in this issue reflects the commitment to making well-informed decisions aimed at mitigating GHG within their organisations, as well as the co-benefits that such actions represent.

Session 5. Course: “Strengthening technical capacities in the elaboration of marginal abatement cost curves (MACC curves)”. Preparation of an Emissions Trading System in Mexico (SiCEM). GIZ Mexico

During COP26 in Glasgow, a key issue was financing for a climate transition towards the goal of slowing global warming to 1.5°C. The need to take actions and measures to meet this objective has become an emergency. Thus, recognising this importance, the postgraduate studies division of the economics faculty of UNAM opened a dialogue in the discussion “Climate Policy in Mexico: Current and Prospective”, where Gabriela Niño, Mitigation and Financing advisor at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH moderated the table on “Climate Financing and Prospective Climate Policy”.

In this dialogue space, it was emphasised that while Mexico has climate policies, there is still a long way to go to reach the goal. As Carlos López, professor at the Faculty of Economics at UNAM stated: “Doing nothing is the worst case scenario.” He added: “The current financial system has participated in the environmental problem, so it is necessary to start a long-term financial analysis.” Basurto complemented this statement by assuring that: “In monetary terms, the cost of inaction is much higher than starting to take measures to mitigate climate change.”

The Private Sector in the Fight Against Climate Change

Climate change is not a new problem, nor a government-only decision. For Karina Caballero, “Climate change mitigation and adaptation actions are shared responsibilities between public and private sectors.” However, for Dr. Pedro Álvarez, “The best way to safeguard natural resources is by giving them a value.” For this reason, he mentioned that socio-environmental undertakings are excellent initiatives to comply with climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. He argued that climate finance should pay more attention to this type of activity.

Although the four panellists agreed that the perspective of climate policy in Mexico has been framed within a pessimistic scenario, they also agree that international collaboration is necessary to achieve objectives; also, that it is essential to start doing different research–one that involves local needs. In the same way, they commented that it is essential to provide support in multidisciplinary exercises to create taxonomies, metrics and verifications to avoid greenwashing within the financial sector.

Panelists of the Conversation “Climate Policy in Mexico: current and prospective”.

This publication was prepared within the framework of the technical cooperation between Mexico and Germany. With the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) as a counterpart, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH implements the programme “Water and Wastewater Companies for Climate Mitigation” (WaCCliM) commissioned by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

In this journal, climate financing options are identified at municipal, state, national and international levels, as well as existing opportunities for water and sanitation operators in Mexico to access these sources of financing. These opportunities work with the assumption that operating agencies will identify potential climate change mitigation and adaptation measures within their operations, implementing them and planning to monitor and improve them over time.

Through the approach of renewable energy and energy efficiency co-benefits, decision-makers and experts in climate change and energy can use data to communicate the positive effects derived from the deployment of sustainable energy projects. Currently, there are different models and tools to quantify these social, economic and environmental benefits, providing accurate data on the impact of the installation of these technologies, such as the tool International Jobs and Economic Development Impacts (I-JEDI).

GIZ/ The Undersecretary Santiago Creuheras of the SMADSOT and the Mtro. Jonas Russbild director of the CONECC project sharing the welcome messages with the participants.

For this reason, the project Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC) within the framework of the Virtual Forum “Trends of the Energy Transition in the Face of Global Climate Change: Actions at a Subnational Level” organised by the Secretariat of the Environment, Sustainable Development and Territorial Planning of the state of Puebla (SMADSOT), carried out the “Specialised Training in the Quantification of Social and Economic Sustainable Energy Co-benefits in Mexico”. The training focused on the use of the I-JEDI tool to quantify the socioeconomic co-benefits of renewable energy projects. The aim was to introduce the concept of co-benefits and provide knowledge for the model to be implemented–as well as to familiarise decision makers and experts with its use.

The workshop lasted three days and was attended by 21 people from the subnational, federal, private, and academic public sectors. The training focused on practical modelling exercises for photovoltaic and wind energy projects, with a focus on quantifying the jobs generated and economic impact. Additionally, spaces for dialogue between experts were created, in order to share experiences, good practices and opportunities triggered through the quantification of co-benefits. Importance was placed on these positive impacts reaching the communities where the projects are developed. The participants concluded that the I-JEDI tool could be a basis for local governments to approach the quantification of co-benefits for the socioeconomic development of a region.

At the end of the workshop, the participants were able to distinguish the social, environmental and specifically economic co-benefits, identifying the types of employment: direct, indirect and induced–derived from the different stages of the project such as construction, operation and maintenance. In addition, the participants carried out different simulation exercises to evaluate and strengthen knowledge, as well as the skills acquired at the workshop. The event also fostered a constructive dialogue among the participants, who shared their experiences and perspectives from their different work contexts, enriching the training and the lessons learned during the workshop.

GIZ/ Participants of the specialized training in the I-JEDI employment co-benefits quantification tool

Climate change is a systemic risk for the country’s economic development. Thus, TCFD recommendations provide the tools to carry out a profound transformation from the market, guaranteeing sustainable economic development that is much more resilient to climate dangers.

As a follow-up to the series of a workshop series that begun last year, Philipp Mettenheimer, Director of Financial Services at Oliver Wyman, held an additional workshop on November 3. It focused on the importance of governance and the management of physical and transition risks, for financial decision-making.

The financial expert mentioned that “disclosing the organization’s governance around climate risks and opportunities is essential if the TCFD programme is to be successful.” Establishing priorities in the sustainability of company activities is a main element for climate risk management and the disclosure of environmental, social and government information.

Phillip Mettenheimer emphasised the importance of incorporating climate risks comprehensively in companies and encouraged the participants, mentioning that companies such as Fibra UNO (FUNO) are already incorporating the TCFD recommendations into their disclosure.

Meanwhile, Ana Karen Mora and Jessica Pelcastre, Director of Sustainability and Foundation at Fibra Uno; Jessica Pelcastre: Coordinator of Sustainability at Fibra Uno, presented the challenges and opportunities they have had in integrating the TCFD recommendations on climate risk management. They also presented their experience applying and defining the risks, and determining a cost for each one.

It is important to point out that Fibra UNO (FUNO’s) market is diverse, representing a challenge to define, measure and pay for the impact of the effects of climate change on its portfolio. However, today they have a “resilient portfolio”, which will allow them to make their business more sustainable and resilient to climate change, in the medium and long term.

If you want to know more about the case of FUNO and TCFD, take a look at the video of the TCFD Mexico Consortium sessions; you can also visit the Twitter accounts of the TCFD Mexico Consortium and GIZ Mexico, where we will share information about the next workshops and Consortium activities.

Environmental risks feature prominently in the financial landscape. Consequently, in recent years, steps have been taken globally to ensure that the financial system integrates these risks into decision-making. Thus guaranteeing sustainable economic development.

Within the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), Mexico has begun the path to replicate the actions carried out in Japan, aiming for the Mexican private sector to offer truthful and objective disclosures about the financially related risks of climate change.

Thus, a series of virtual training workshops for the TCFD in Mexico was convened for the first time and, on October 20 last year, the first virtual workshop on “TCFD Basics” took place, with a successful participation of more than 400 people.

Consorcio TCFD México / Twitter: @TCFDConsorcioMx

This first workshop counted with the participation of Marita Brömmelmeier, resident director of GIZ Mexico who, together with Gabriela Rodríguez, head of the Climate, Energy and Future Cities Policy of the British Embassy in Mexico, agree that the TCFD recommendations are essential for informed decision-making of financial systems on the impacts of climate change.

Meanwhile, Antonio Quesada, Vice President of Regulatory Policy of the National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV), mentioned that “the important challenges for the financial and business sector are gender equity and governance strategies”, making it indispensable for organizations to focus on recommendations and follow the governance actions, strategies, risk management and metrics and objectives established in the TCFD, helping to curb climate change caused by the financial system.

Finally, Juan Carlos Belausteguigoitia, president of the TCFD Mexico Consortium, thanked GIZ Mexico, the British Embassy in Mexico, the Green Finance Consultative Council (CCFV) and CESPEDES, for participating in this first workshop, stressing the importance of the transparency of information regarding the climate risks of companies.

GIZ Mexico, aware of the necessity to include the private sector in order to achieve a greener and more resilient financial system, has shared the tools for the development of this series of dialogues, to advance the discussion on climate-related financial disclosure and its use by financial institutions.

For the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development (GIZ), diversity is a central theme in strengthening international cooperation. Thus, from September 20 to 24, Diversity Week 2021 was celebrated with the slogan “diversity connects”, aiming to create a space for reflection and exchange of ideas on diversity in all its facets.

For this reason, the project Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC), committed to climate action and diversity, took part with an event called “Diverse Youth for Climate Action”, where young people talked and shared ideas on how to include diverse voices from an intersectional approach in the fight against climate change.

The event began with a presentation on the perspective of youth and diversity, emphasising that the lives of young people are still marked by persistent forms of structural discrimination combined with prejudice. A situation that negatively affects the prospects for social inclusion and well-being of marginalised youth groups, including young people with disabilities, ethnicities, religious minorities, refugees, migrants, women, girls, LGBTTTIQ + youth, indigenous youth, etc.

GIZ / Andrea Medina Pinkfish | Graphic memory presentation “Diverse Youth from GIZ”

On the other hand, it was emphasised that young people are vulnerable, not only due to the economic and health crisis caused by COVID-19, but also because of the climate emergency. The exacerbated effects of the climate crisis place the well-being of young people at risk, besides widening the inequality gap.

Likewise, the actions taken in the present will have repercussions in the future. It is therefore necessary to ensure a significant youth participation in the strategies of adaptation and mitigation to climate change. It is essential to provide tools to strengthen resilience in the face of the current and future climate crises. Young people have proven to be a key ally in the international cooperation for sustainable development, strongly promoting climate action and promoting leadership for a green and inclusive recovery.

The second block of the event comprised a discussion with young leaders in Mexico, including Mitzy Violeta from Milpa Climática, who highlighted the necessity of linking responses to climate change with what is happening in each territory. She also highlighted the importance of the participation of indigenous peoples in climate action to strengthen processes at the local level. Also, Iván Martínez, pre-COP26 delegate, emphasised the importance of being inclusive and incorporating disruptive youth perspectives. Similarly, Jesús Reyes, founding member of the Sustainable Finance Hub, stated that actions addressing climate change will have to consider inequalities in different regions, especially in Latin America, besides including the LGBTTTIQ + community in social dynamics.

GIZ / Andrea Medina Pinkfish | Conversation graphic memory “Diverse youths for climate action”

Around 90 people from all over the world attended the event. We are confident that this event has achieved its goal of opening a conversation on including youth voices in climate action, both locally and internationally.

GIZ | Youth participating in the discussion

Currently, the world faces complex global problems, which require new actors and partnerships that support the creation of adaptation solutions to these challenges. We have recently observed that non-traditional and innovative methodologies and actors, such as start-ups and other members of innovation ecosystems, are increasingly supporting international cooperation. They have been able to identify and create new opportunities for the generation of disruptive solutions for the sustainability of development.

Thus, in 2020 the project Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC), together with the Raw Materials and Climate (MaPriC) project in Colombia, coordinated the work of the Regional Dialogue on Innovative External Cooperations Workstream in the framework of the Sector Network for Environmental Management and Rural Development in Latin America and the Caribbean (GADeR-LAC) of GIZ. The work of this group focused on the development of research on sustainable development programmes and projects that use or have used innovative mechanisms in their planning, development and implementation processes. The purpose is to perceive the impact that external actors generate, as well as the innovative tools for the sustainability of international cooperation, and their influence on the work carried out by GIZ in the Latin American region.

GIZ / Elaboration Laguna. Infographic What are innovative external partnerships.

The study began with an incubation process, which later gave rise to research through exchanges and interviews with actors and internal and external projects in Latin America and Germany. These actors are distinguished by: the use of innovative methodologies that permit collective decision-making and the design of collaborative and agile strategies; collaboration with private actors that contribute to the work of GIZ as hubs and innovation laboratories, start-up accelerators, and more and, finally, in the identification of environmental, social and economic impacts–the results of which are derived from the first two categories. From this, 32 actors and projects were selected for research. The work carried out in this work stream was developed between April and March 2021 with the support of Hevas Innovation.

GIZ / Elaboration Laguna. Actors who participated in the investigation

This resulted in these collaboration schemes and examples of inspiring and innovative stories within GIZ: the Bolivian Innovation Fund, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Alliance in Ecuador and the Technological Innovation Hub in Querétaro HUBIQ, as well as projects external to GIZ such as Koga, nuup and Viwala, among other actors.

GIZ / Elaboration Laguna. Infographic – Cooperation with external agents in GIZ.

GIZ / Elaboration Laguna. Infographic – Emerging Innovation at GIZ

Finally, the webinar Regional Dialogue on Innovative External Cooperations took place: a space for exchange between GIZ and external projects, to present the results of the study. The event was attended by 30 people, who discussed the lessons learned from working with other types of actors and innovative methodologies, as well as their implications for international cooperation regarding sustainable development.

GIZ / Elaboration Laguna. Infographic – New horizons for International Development Cooperation.

For more information on the work and the results of the work stream Regional Dialogue on Innovative External Cooperations please download the complete study.

Contact: Juan Carlos Mendoza, Technical Advisor of the CONECC project.

Get to know the Secretariat of the GADeR-ALC Sector Network to learn more about this and other work streams in the Latin American region.

The CONECC project carried out a workshop on strategic communication, alongside different state representatives, aimed at highlighting the social, environmental and economic benefits of sustainable energy.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects are key to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change. However, they also trigger co-benefits in social, environmental and economic areas. However, the decision-makers or implementers of these projects do not always have the tools to communicate the multiple benefits.

Therefore the GIZ through the project Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC), within the framework of implementing a pilot programme to quantify co-benefits, developed a communication consultancy to share best practices and tools for the communication of the positive effects of sustainable energy. Decision-makers accompanied them from subnational governments of the six projects taking part in the pilot programme, in the states of Hidalgo, Yucatán, Guanajuato, Coahuila and Tamaulipas.

During the counselling, basic concepts were shared to strengthen the mechanisms to communicate co-benefits, through communication strategies and plans: for example, by determining audiences and channels, building key message, and through strategic content planning. A toolbox was shared, with graphic and planning elements. The objectives of the toolbox are:

To provide state governments with the minimum knowledge required to design a communication strategy that communicates the co-benefits of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RE and EE) projects.
To offer a guide that facilitates the implementation of a communication strategy and the content plans derived from it.
To provide graphic tools and pre-designed key messages, as well as monitoring instruments to facilitate specific strategies implementation and communicate the co-benefits of sustainable energy.

Various recommendations and good practices were also presented that focus on highlighting these benefits in other areas and strengthening local sustainable development: examples include the use of storytelling, or emotional narrative construction and monitoring and performance indicators that can measure and eventually improve communication strategies.

The coaching drew 40 participants from several sectors including energy, climate change, water resources and economic development. Representatives from six states participated. With this advice, the participants of the pilot programme are expected to have the capacities and tools to communicate the co-benefits that their projects generate.

You can download the presentation of the workshop with the essentials of co-benefits communication, as well as a guide to the toolbox. For questions, please contact cobeneficios@giz.de

GIZ / Laguna. Communication consultancy “The ABC of co-benefits: how to communicate the benefits of sustainable energy”

Solving and dealing with the climate crisis will require the joint work of various actors and sectors of the economy. Within these, innovation ecosystems are key communities to provide the conditions that favour the co-creation of disruptive solutions to climate change and the acceleration of efforts to reduce GHG emissions, aiming towards a carbon neutral future.

Technological innovation and entrepreneurship are undoubtedly ways to advance along this route. Innovation is not only considered as part of the set of effective global responses to the mitigation efforts of the following years (IPCC, 2021); it has also been positioned as a driving force to trigger processes of social, economic and environmental transformation. As well as guiding productivity, competitiveness and economic development, it is also a way to promote jobs, the survival and growth of SMEs and local value chains, among other benefits. Innovation is consequently a process to promote sustainable development and green and inclusive growth.

The Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC) project, within the framework of the series “Conversations for Climate Action and Sustainable Energy” carried out a First Virtual Conversation entitled: “Innovation ecosystems as an impetus for decarbonisation of the energy sector.” The event aimed to provide a digital space for national and international actors who actively take part in innovation ecosystems and in the climate change and energy sector. The aim was to exchange experiences and practices on those critical factors that will use the potential of entrepreneurship to contribute to a carbon-neutral economic growth based on innovation.

GIZ / Laguna. Official Conversation Poster

The event began with words of welcome from the coordinator of the Climate Change and Energy Cluster of GIZ Mexico, Philipp Schukat, and the Secretary for Sustainable Development of Querétaro (SEDESU), Marco A. del Prete, who highlighted the joint effort of GIZ and SEDESU to promote local sustainable development and to strengthen innovation ecosystems, for example through a Technological Innovation Hub oriented to climate action in the state (HUBIQ A.C.).

Later, Ariana Gómez, CEO at Technology for Impact, presented a keynote speech in which she provided context on how to approach climate change from an innovation perspective, as well as the challenges and opportunities that it provides. The central panel of the multisectoral conversation included the participation of the Undersecretary of the Environment of Querétaro, Ricardo Torres; Patrice Rimond, President of the Queretaro Energy Cluster and Director of Distribution Systems in Mexico and Central America at Siemens; Ariana Gómez and Morgan Babbs, Chief Innovation Officer at iluméxico. Each participant shared different perspectives regarding how innovation can strengthen business models, decarbonise the energy sector, and deliver social benefits.

The panellists agreed that technology is a tool that helps to achieve Mexican and global climate objectives, without ignoring the multiple social effects that it entails. In addition, the discussion focused its attention on the elements that can enable innovation ecosystems that place a central value proposition in connecting their actors, through the promotion of entrepreneurship, regulatory and public policy conditions, access to financing for innovation, and the participation of companies and research institutions, among other key factors.

GIZ / Carol Mota. Graphic memory of the Conversation “The role of innovation ecosystems to promote a future carbon neutral”.

“The father and mother of innovation are necessity and passion”

Mtra. Ariana Gómez

At CONECC, we believe that technological innovation is a catalyst to achieve sustainable development and climate action, and that innovation ecosystems play a very important role in achieving this goal. The actions of international cooperation for development to promote formats that foster innovation can be firm steps in the move towards a decarbonisation of the energy sector with high local content. We hope that this discussion has created a spark of change in its participants. The discussion reached over 400 views and an attendance of more than 70 people. You can consult the recording in the following link: First Virtual Conversation: Technological innovation for the Decarbonisation of the Energy Sector.

The approach to the co-benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency is a tool that allows decision-makers, as well as experts in climate change and energy, to visualise the positive effects derived from sustainable energy projects.

These co-benefits go beyond greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, as renewable energy projects can have a positive impact on the social, economic and environmental spheres. This could be by generating jobs and savings, increasing investments and the well-being of the population, education or training, to name but a few.

In this way, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, through the project Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC) at the invitation of the Tamaulipas Energy Commission (CETAM), took part in the presentation of the results and lessons learned from the co-benefit quantification exercise of the Bicentennial Photovoltaic Park project, in Ciudad Victoria, which is part of the quantification pilot programme.

The event was held within the framework of the Tamaulipas Solar Week 2021. In this meeting, Antonieta Gómez López, head of the CETAM office, provided a welcome emphasising the importance of the co-benefits approach and its quantification to ensure a fair transition to more sustainable energy.

The event took place on September 27 with more than 200 attendees. You can find out more details and results of the co-benefits quantification of the Photovoltaic Park through the following disclosure sheet.

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