Author: IKI Alliance

Since 2017, combating climate change in Mexican cities has been a priority issue for GIZ. Today, the outcome of this work is published in Lessons Learned from the Climate Protection in Mexican Urban Policy (CiClim) Project 2017-2020, which gathers experiences and shares creative solutions with other cities, the Mexican state and other actors.

The success stories presented in this document address climate change from the perspective of urban planning and sustainable mobility, as well as the integration and valuation of ecosystem services in urban planning. Below are some examples of the success stories promoted by GIZ through the CiClim project.

Foto: Intervención en zona peatonal, Hermosillo ©Colectivo Ciclista Bukis a la Calle
Photo: Intervention in the pedestrian zone, Hermosillo © Colectivo Ciclista Bukis a la Calle

In order to provide higher quality water and air as well as a decent quality of life for future generations, the economic and social value of ecosystem services has been integrated into city planning. This has allowed cities such as León and Morelia to promote and regulate the protection of natural areas and their biodiversity in the peripheries within their urban planning instruments.

In terms of prioritising actions for non-motorised mobility, in Hermosillo, the Vision Zero strategy was implemented working closely with cycling groups and the municipality. The project aims to increase road safety and promote pedestrian and cyclist mobility, thus contributing to the reduction of GHG emissions.

Elements of green infrastructure were incorporated into one of the branches of the CAFFENIO cafeteria in Hermosillo, including: a green wall, a rain garden, and an interior tree. Among the main benefits are savings of 57% in water and 40% in energy. This test project was successful thanks to the coordination between the private and public sectors and is expected to be replicated in other branches.

With this document, cities are invited to share success stories and lessons learned in order to stimulate existing potential and design resilient, inclusive and healthy cities.

As part of the Mainstreaming Biodiversity into the Mexican Agricultural Sector Project (IKI-IBA), the Deutsche Gesell­schaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit  (GIZ) GmbH, together with the Ministry of Agricultural, Fishing, and Aquaculture Development (SEDAPA) and the Ministry of the Environment, Energy, and Sustainable Development (SEMAEDESO), developed a participative process with 124 stakeholders, who are involved in the state of Oaxaca’s agri-food system. Their goal was to create the Strategy for Strengthening Technical Skills for Sustainability in the Agricultural and Forestry Sectors in the State of Oaxaca. The strategy was published on March 20, 2021 with the aim of providing the state’s government with a mechanism for technical skill development for sustainable biodiversity management, integrating sustainability criteria in the design and operation of agricultural projects.

As part of the strategy, the Seminar for Sustainable Use and Sustainable Biodiversity Skill Strengthening was held from August 2nd to the 19th, 2021. The seminar is made up of 6 modules that aim to strengthen the skills of academics, students, extensionists, producer organizations, and public servants in the following areas:

  1. Environmental Awareness
  2. Ecotourism Projects

III. Analysis of Local Experiences

  1. Sustainable Innovations
  2. The Productive Sector and Biodiversity
  3. Financing for Green Projects

The seminar has been enthusiastically received by the actors involved, as seen by the more than 600 participants registered in the six modules (32% academics, 31% high school and university students, 15% extensionists, 15% producers, 7% others), more than 976 views of the opening ceremony of Module 1. Environmental Awareness on the YouTube channel YouTube – Fortalecimiento Sustentable (Sustainable Strengthening), more than 960 visitors from Mexico and other countries to the website, and more than 200 direct interactions on the Mentimeter tool in the live session.

By undertaking these actions, the project helps to institutionalize these topics in more than 15 local and national institutions, integrating issues relating to the incorporation of sustainable use of biodiversity in production systems.

The first half of 2021 began with strong, renewed efforts to close the gap that exists for financing EE projects in Mexico. With this aim, the Efficiency Valuation Organization (EVO), with support from GIZ through the SME NAMA Program, adapted the International Energy Efficiency Financing Protocol (IEEFP) to the Mexican context. For this, it carried out a pilot course on the protocol, bringing together important actors in the financial sector to promote product development and process improvements for financing EE projects in Mexico.

The IEEFP’s goal is to create a better understanding on the part of financial institutions of the risks and savings opportunities associated with EE projects and how these generate savings on operating expenses. The course emphasized the main technologies used in EE projects and the importance of having an Investment Grade Audit (IGA) to support the project’s investments, as well as incorporating a practical case-study activity in which participants evaluated the financial aspects of an EE project.

The pilot course was held virtually on June 22, 25, and 29, and July 1, attracting more than 25 participants from commercial banks and non-bank financial institutions in Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil, who expressed interest in developing and incorporating in their portfolios financial products focused on EE and Renewable Energy (RE).

Curso piloto en línea sobre IEEFP. © EVO.
Online pilot course about the IEEFP. © EVO.

The success of this pilot course was made possible thanks to the active collaboration of ABM, who helped publicize the event among its members, as well as the participation of the national development bank National Finance (NAFIN), and the National Commission for Efficient Energy Use, creating a positive outlook for a greater integration of EE in the Mexican market.

Curso piloto en línea sobre IEEFP. © EVO.
Online pilot course about the IEEFP. © EVO.

Find more information at: EVO library.

Last July 19th, version 3.0 of the Energy Performance and Carbon Emissions Assessment and Monitoring Tool (ECAM) was launched.

ECAM 3.0, like its previous versions, is a free, open-source tool available on the WaCCliM website. Businesses providing water and treatment services around the world can use ECAM 3.0 to benchmark their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions system wide. The tool identifies opportunities to reduce emissions and costs and allows utilities to monitor and report on their results.

By identifying areas where greenhouse gas emissions can be cut, increasing energy savings, and improving general efficiency, ECAM offers a holistic approach so that urban water utilities shift to climate-smart water management. It also prepares water and treatment businesses for future climate-mitigation reporting needs.

It is not necessary for water and treatment companies to collect special data, nor do they have to create an account to use ECAM. The tool functions with the operational data that administrators and operators use every day. If some data is unavailable, ECAM provides complementary assumptions based on Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) models.

It is important for water and treatment companies to take measures to mitigate their emissions since it is estimated that the water sector contributes around 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

ECAM will serve as an analytical tool tackling this challenge. It will make it possible to evaluate energy performance and carbon emissions throughout the urban water cycle, from extraction and distribution to wastewater treatment and sludge management, adapting to each company’s analysis capabilities.

The ECAM tool update represents another step towards a smart and sustainable urban water system with lower emissions and reduced vulnerability to local climate change impacts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More information:

¿Sabes qué es un Programa Presupuestario “U” (PPU)? De acuerdo con la tipología de Programas Presupuestarios definidos por el CONAC, la modalidad U “Otros Subsidios” son aquellas intervenciones públicas para otorgar subsidios no sujetos a reglas de operación, en su caso, mediante convenios.

La Alianza Mexicana Alemana de Cambio Climático de la Cooperación Alemana de Desarrollo Sustentable (GIZ) en México, apoya a la SEMARNAT en el diseño e implementación de un PPU, que canalizará recursos públicos del Presupuesto de Egresos de la Federación (PEF) y el cual se define como uno de los principales instrumentos públicos, que sustituye algunas de las funciones que desarrollaba el Fondo de Cambio Climático (FCC), el cual se encuentra en proceso de extinción. El PPU se desempeñará como un vehículo financiero que canalice, ejerza, gestione, priorice, mida y reporte de forma transparente el uso de recursos públicos federales anualmente, para el cumplimiento de metas de mitigación y adaptación establecidas en las Contribuciones Determinadas a nivel Nacional (NDC). Dichos recursos son subsidios federales que son asignados por parte de las dependencias y entidades hacia la población mediante criterios de objetividad, equidad, transparencia, publicidad, selectividad y temporalidad (artículo 74 de la LFPRH).

Para asignar subsidios a la población, las dependencias y entidades deben garantizar que los recursos se canalicen exclusivamente a la población objetivo y asegurar su acceso equitativo a todos los grupos sociales. Asimismo, debe contar con mecanismos de seguimiento, supervisión y evaluación de los beneficios económicos y sociales de su asignación y aplicación.

La Alianza, comprometida con impulsar la planeación estratégica y transparente en la elaboración de los objetivos nacionales y sectoriales, así como en contribuir al mejoramiento de los mecanismos de uso de instrumentos públicos, promueve el desarrollo del PPU para atender, de manera eficaz y transparente, el cumplimiento de las metas y objetivos en materia de cambio climático a nivel nacional.

The links and alliances between sectors that make up the innovation ecosystem allow connections to be made, fostering dialog about common goals such as the strengthening of local competencies through technological innovation in sustainable energy and new cooperation models. This is the way HUBIQ—Hub de Innovación Tecnológica (Technological Innovation Hub) addressing sustainable energy in the state of Querétaro—has enabled the creation and promotion of these links between a range of actors such as businesses, the government, academia, MSMEs, start-ups, and entrepreneurs, driving the energy transition in the state and thus contributing to Mexico’s climate goals. HUBIQ was fostered by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH through the Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico project (CONECC), and the Ministry of Sustainable Development of the State of Queretaro (SEDESU).

Recently, HUBIQ was legally established as a Civil Association (A.C.), a milestone for the project. This means that it can strengthen its role as an actor in the local and regional innovation ecosystem. Representatives of HUBIQ, the CONECC project, and Queretaro Energy Cluster, and LiCore A.C. company participated in the signing of the founding documents. They are founding partners and key allies in the formation of the Hub. Other prominent members of the Hub’s Advisory Board include Rosalba Cobos from Mabe’s Technology Center in Querétaro and Dr. Yunny Meas Vong, member of the Electrochemistry Technology Research and Development Center (CIDETEQ).

This is a breakthrough for the project as it positions itself as a platform connecting local innovation actors. It also fosters collaboration for climate action and bolsters sustainable energy technologies and business models in the state.

As a result of this, HUBIQ is in the strategic planning process to define its next steps and activities within the innovation ecosystem. These include fostering alliances with other innovation ecosystems, continuing the Technological Acceleration Program for MSMEs and start-ups, and the publication of a manual for implementing technological innovation hubs addressing renewable energy and energy efficiency. The aim is to communicate the steps and activities to consider, as well as the lessons learned, and to support the replicability of this innovation experience in the country.

The HUBIQ will soon participate in discussions about the CONECC project on technological innovation and innovation ecosystems for climate action and the sustainable and inclusive energy transition nationally, sub-nationally, and regionally. It is aligned with a sustainable socio-economic post-pandemic recovery.

Through the quantification of the social, environmental, and economic co-benefits of sustainable energy, synergies can be created with different sectors and agendas that contribute to climate action efforts. Therefore, the project Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC), in coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), implemented a pilot program to quantify the co-benefits of sustainable energy. This is within the framework of activities which aims to develop a co-benefits quantification tool.

The work methodology presented starts with a review of the state of the art of co-benefits and approaches to quantify these; it then contemplates a robust process of information collection and workshops to identify and prioritize the co-benefits to be quantified. The representatives of the participating institutions were the National Water Commission (CONAGUA), the Yucatan Ministry of Economic Development and Labor (SEFOET); the Secretary of the Environment of Coahuila (SMA); the Secretariat of the Environment and Territorial Planning of Guanajuato (SMAOT); the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources of Hidalgo (SEMARNATH) and the Energy Commission of Tamaulipas (CETAM).

The event was inaugurated with words of welcome from the General Director of Policies for Climate Change at SEMARNAT, Dr Marco Antonio Heredia Fragoso, and Jonas Russbild, Director of the CONECC project. Dr Heredia emphasized that the quantification of co-benefits will allow progress in providing evidence of the advantages of sustainable projects that allow the fulfilment of Mexico’s climate goals. In addition, he commented that subnational participation is key to achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and reiterated that SEMARNAT is promoting evidence of the benefits of climate action.

Jonas Russbild highlighted the participation of the representatives of the six selected projects in the pilot program of co-benefits quantification, and the fruitful collaboration between SEMARNAT and GIZ. He commented that the quantification tool will allow more stakeholders to be part of local efforts to meet the goals set in the NDC, leaving no one behind.

The CONECC project presented the objectives of the pilot program and the co-benefits tool. Factor CO2, the consultancy supporting this process, presented the quantification methodology and shared the milestones to consider. The representatives of the participating projects took part in an open dialogue about the next steps to follow and the importance of quantifying co-benefits at a local level.

©Foto: GIZ MX. Participantes en el evento de presentación.
©Photo: GIZ MX. Participants in the Presentation Event.

As part of the dialogue with the projects, the information gathering activities will begin in the coming weeks to advance the process of quantifying the economic, social, and environmental benefits of the projects participating in this pilot program, to quantify the co-benefits of sustainable energy.

For more information about the activities of the Co-benefits Mexico project, we invite you to write to us at: cobeneficios@giz.de and pedro.hernandez@giz.de or at our Twitter account.

The Cities Climate Finance Leadership Alliance (CCFLA) and the FELICITY Global Program participated in the “Forum for the Community of Practice for Subnational Project Preparation in Mexico”, held virtually from May 4-6 of 2021.

The first day of the forum saw the presentation of some of the project preparation initiatives of CCFLA members, with Itzel Alcérreca presenting the challenges and achievements of the  FELICITY Program in Mexico. Alexandra Linden, head of Global FELICITY, highlighted the importance of national financing for urban development in Mexico.

Alexandra Linden responsable del Programa FELICITY, FELICITY México 2021.
Alexandra Linden, Head of FELICITY Program, FELICITY Mexico 2021.

On the second day, a space was opened for dialogue and discussion on sectoral issues, where local and regional governments shared their best experiences and generated collaboration with other actors for the benefit of their projects.

Miguel Fernández, junior advisor to FELICITY in Mexico, moderated the working group on Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) alongside Luis Felipe Colturato, FELICITY’s expert consultant on MSW issues.

On the third and last day of the forum, local governments had the opportunity to present their projects to a jury that provided feedback to the project promoters, giving them tools to better build their projects and present themselves to potential investors.

Naschielli Ayala, Deputy Director of Climate Change at the Ministry of the Environment of Mexico City (SEDEMA), presented the Mexico City project “Transition to Energy Efficiency in Public Buildings”. Meanwhile, Roger Peniche, advisor to the Naucalpan de Juárez City Council, presented the project for the “PTARs System in Río Hondo, Naucalpan”.

Finally, Mario Duarte, Coordinator of International Affairs of SEDEMA, closed the forum with a few closing words, highlighting the importance of this type of meetings and collaborations to fight against climate change.

Sesión Inaugural Foro CCFLA, FELICITY México 2021.
Inaugural Session CCFLA Forum, FELICITY México 2021.

The forum was attended by 275 people from different institutions and civil society organizations, such as CCFLA, ICLEI, FELICITY, CFF, WRI, FMDV, GAP Fund, GIF, CIF, IDB, SEDATU, SHCP, SEDATU, SEMARNAT, BANORTE, ONU-HABITAT and SEDEMA.

For more information contact: itzel.alcerreca@giz.de; miguel.fernandez@giz.de.

Solving and dealing with the climate crisis will require the collective work of various sectors of the economy and actors such as state governments, the private sector, entrepreneurs, universities, and research centers, among others. Technological innovation plays a key role in creating disruptive solutions to climate change and accelerating greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction efforts.

This is why HUBIQ —the Querétaro state’s Technological Innovation Hub in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency—, together with LiCore A.C. and with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH carried out and successfully concluded the activities of the Technological Acceleration Program for MSMEs and start-ups in Querétaro on April 30. HUBIQ is implemented through the GIZ projects Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC) and Support for the Energy Transition in Mexico (TrEM),

This program aimed to advise innovative ventures with a focus on clean energy and energy efficiency, towards the promotion of a post-COVID-19 green recovery in the state.

Five specialized workshops were held over five months on topics such as agile methodologies, strategic intelligence, fundraising, digitization and blockchain and electronic manufacturing design, among others; these helped 12 enterprises to accelerate their technological processes and thus strengthen their business models. These ventures work in topics such as sensors for the efficient use of energy; monitoring, reporting and verification of decarbonization; an application for energy efficiency in residences and businesses; distributed power generation for SMEs, and computer software to simulate the behavior of renewable energy generators. As a result of the acceleration program, two of the participating ventures are now in the process of formally establishing themselves as MSMEs.

Likewise, the projects had the opportunity to carry out an open innovation exercise, with several actors from the private sector, including Mabe, General Electrics, SIEMENS, the Center for Engineering and Industrial Development (CIDESI) and specialists in capital funds. These provided feedback and training with an emphasis on technical and financial issues to ensure the sustainability of the projects.

Finally, five representatives of the enterprises presented their results at the closing event, including the next steps to follow to give continuity to their projects. The Technological Acceleration Program sought to strengthen alliances within the innovation ecosystem and promote the energy transition and local climate action through technological innovation.

The Acceleration Program was financed by the program “Support for the Implementation of the Energy Transition in Mexico (TrEM)” through a Grant Agreement, commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

https://twitter.com/Conecc_Mx/status/1388167422662701057?s=20

Consult the Program for the Promotion of Technological Innovation Projects with a Focus on Sustainable Energy.

In a collaborative effort, the NDC Partnership and GIZ’s Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance are joining global support efforts through an Economic Adviser to the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP). The objective is to carry out a project identifying actions, programs, and additional sources to mobilize public and private resources for economic recovery efforts addressing the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic with cost-effective actions in line with Mexico’s commitments on climate change, as established in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and prioritizing a gender-sensitive approach.

©Imagen: NDC Partnership. (2021). El NDC Partnership Puesto en Contexto.
©Imagen: NDC Partnersh©Image: NDC Partnership. (2021) NDC Partnership in context.

Setting the project in motion, a meeting held on June 7th welcomed adviser Diego Castañeda and presented the initiative’s objectives. Present at the virtual event were the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP), the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), the NDC Partnership, the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance, and “The 2030 Agenda Initiative: Mexico is Making Progress” from GIZ.

©Foto: Participantes de la reunión 07 de junio: NDC Partnership, SHCP, SEMARNAT, SRE, GIZ México y Asesor Económico Diego Castañeda.
©Photo: Participants in the June 07 meeting: NDC Partnership, SHCP, SEMARNAT, SRE, GIZ México, and Economic Adviser Diego Castañeda.

NDC Partnership aims to help member countries enable financial mechanisms to implement the NDC. In 2020, the Economic Advisory Initiative was created, and it is now being implemented in its 34 member countries, including Mexico. This initiative seeks to advise governments in order to include climate issues in post-pandemic recovery plans.

Mónica Echegoyen, NDC Partnership Mexico’s representative, declared that “this is a success story because, by ensuring the three ministries’ participation as focal points, we guarantee transversality at the public policy level.” In this way, GIZ reiterates its commitment to pursue sustainable development by recognizing the importance of international technical cooperation. With these initiatives, concrete political actions will be achieved and a green recovery from the pandemic will be assured.

The Mexico-European Union Forum on Coastal Vulnerability drew in the participation of 25 government experts, academia, and specialized institutes, of which 12 were from Mexico and 13 from the European Union, to further discuss one of the great global challenges: the vulnerability of coastal areas to the effects of climate change.

The forum’s aim was to promote a space for dialogue and exchange of experiences, policies, methodologies, lessons learned and best practices regarding coastal vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, to study, evaluate and reduce vulnerability, considering changes in current and future climate patterns, and their possible impacts.

The topics addressed were: 1) Coastal vulnerability in Mexico and the European Union, 2) Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies to address coastal vulnerability, and 3) Vulnerability and adaptation: experiences and responses from a local level, with a focus on social participation and gender.

In the introduction, the general director of INECC, Dr. María Amparo Martínez Arroyo, pointed out that: “it is imperative to place scientific knowledge on different continents in order to inspire a collective design of actions that will help us advance in long-term intercontinental actions.” Next, the Ambassador of the European Union in Mexico, Gautier Mignot, pointed out that around 95% of impacts could be avoided through a coastal adaptation focused on human settlements and economically important areas on the coast.

©Foto: GIZ MX.

The speakers agreed that the national and international governance of seas and coasts is decisive for their proper management, as well as for reducing climate vulnerability and increasing the capacities necessary for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. In this context, open and direct communication between different levels of government and sectors of society leads to better management of climate risks in these sites, as shown by the experience of several countries of the European Union and several Mexican states in coastal areas.

The forum was organized within the framework of the project Strategic Alliance for the Implementation of the Paris Agreement (SPIPA), together with the National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), the General Directorate of Policies for Climate Change of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union (EU) ‘Team Europe’ and the German Embassy.

Within the framework of the high-level forum “Legislative Challenges of Quintana Roo”, held in person and virtually in the State Congress lobby, the Environment and Climate Change Commission of the XVI Legislature, announced three initiatives regarding climate change, environmental justice, water management, and sustainable tourism.

©Foto: Congreso del Estado de Quintana Roo. Foro de alto nivel sobre retos legislativos en Quintana Roo.
© Photo: State Congress of Quintana Roo.  High-level forum on legislative challenges in Quintana Roo.

The initiative was carried out within the cooperation between the Congress of Quintana Roo and the ADAPTUR project, made up of: a training aimed at legislative teams on environmental challenges; virtual conversations between deputy presidents of various commissions, technical experts such as Gonzalo Merediz from Amigos de Sian Ka´an A.C. and Rosaura Cuevas from GIZ, as well as federal authorities such as Nancy Hernández, from the Directorate of Sustainable Tourism Management of SECTUR and Marco Heredia from the General Directorate of Climate Change Policies of SEMARNAT. Finally, as a conclusion to the work, the aforementioned high-level forum took place on April 21, on the eve of Earth Day.

©Foto: Congreso del Estado de Quintana Roo. Conversatorio virtual sobre cambio climático
© Photo: Congress of the State of Quintana Roo. Virtual conversation on climate change

The three initiatives presented by the deputy president of the Environment and Climate Change Committee involve the following:

  1. Reform of the Law of Quotas and Rates for Public Services of Drinking Water and Sewerage, Treatment and Disposal of Wastewater of the State of Quintana Roo, to reduce or eliminate dissolved nutrients that damage ecosystem health.
  2. Reform of the Quintana Roo Tourism Law to grant power to the state executive to create the State Zones for Sustainable Tourism Development.
  3. Creation of a new State Law on Environmental Responsibility, which will aim to establish and regulate environmental liability arising from damage caused to the environment, as well as the repair and compensation of such damage.

These proposals represent an important milestone for the State of Quintana Roo, since they demonstrate that the health of ecosystems is a fundamental element for the development of the population and productive sectors.

The ADAPTUR project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). It is led by SECTUR with technical support from SEMARNAT, CONANP, INECC and GIZ in Mexico.

For more information consult: