Kenia Cardoza, Author at CLIMATE.BLUE

The Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) introduced the requirement to account for emissions and removals corresponding to their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) nearly three years ago. Since then, further negotiations, discussions, exchange forums and workshops have taken place. Despite these efforts, NDC accounting rules have not been fully carved out, and the recommendations on the accounting orientation—while scheduled for 2018—remain pending.

As part of a four-year collaborative project financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI), country representatives from Colombia, Costa Rica and Mexico, together with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Institute for Applied Ecology (Öko-Institut, Berlin), developed several guides on NDC Accounting Rules. To draft the guides, the implementation partners drew on their rich country experiences of implementing and monitoring mitigation activities for decades focusing on the integration of accounting processes with other climate information systems, especially existing or planned monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV)—for example, the National Metrics System for Climate Change (SINAMECC) in Costa Rica and the Environmental Information System of Colombia (SIAC).

The first product, a general NDC accounting guide, can be used to quantify absolute mitigation targets and mitigation targets related to emissions baselines. It includes suggestions on accounting for several mitigation targets of the NDC, for example conditional and unconditional targets, and offers insights on other transparency-related questions. The second product, an MS Excel based NDC Accounting tool, translates the guidance given in the general accounting guide into an easy-to-follow and structured data processing format that is adjustable to national circumstances in terms of availability of sectoral sub-NDC targets or the monitoring of progress of several mitigation targets in parallel. The third product is an NDC accounting guide for the land-use sector, which, due to the sector’s particular measuring and accounting setup, warranted the elaboration of a specific guide. The guide starts by comparing the different available accounting approaches for the land-use sector, taking into account the layers of measuring and tackling climate change in the sector, such as national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removal inventories or REDD+. It also considers NDC-related issues such as baselines and market mechanisms, and examines sector-specific topics like harvested wood products and non-permanence. The guide concludes by offering a set of recommendations on getting its application started.

To download the products, please visit https://www.transparency-partnership.net/documents-tools/ndc-accounting-rules.

Please note the following: The first two guides are available in English, French and Spanish, while the third guide is only available in English. Please be aware that your internet security manager may not allow you to open the NDC Accounting Tool as it includes VBA programming code/macros. The application of the Accounting Guide for the Land-Use Sector in NDCs requires some previous subject-matter knowledge. We warmly invite your comments, feedback, suggestions or inquiries. Also, if you find bugs in the tool or other errors, please contact us at info@transparency-partnership.net.

The above knowledge products have been completed in the framework of the project Accounting Rules for the Achievement of the Mitigation Targets of Non-Annex 1 Countries, implemented by GIZ. The project is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), based on a decision by the German Bundestag.

For more information visit: Deciphering MRV, accounting, transparency for the post-Paris era and NDC Accounting Rules

The Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) presents a study that responds to the following questions: Who makes decisions about land use? How are these decisions made? (Who influences who, how and why?) This working document forms part of a series on research about institutions and multi-level decision-making processes. The series aims to provide insights into why efforts to protect forests, such as the initiative for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), are still far from altering development trajectories. It highlights the importance of understanding the interactions and interests of multilevel governance actors in forestry, climate and land-use policies and practices, and identifies potential paths to follow.

On October 22 and November 22, 2018, two community workshops were held in the towns of Río Lagartos and El Cuyo of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve as part of the launch of the Costas Listas project, an initiative implemented within the framework of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

Coordinated by WWF México, the project seeks to strengthen the adaptation capacities of coastal communities that depend on the ecosystem services provided by the Mesoamerican Reef in priority sites of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. A portfolio of adaptation options will be identified to reduce the vulnerability of communities and their livelihoods to climate change. This will be done through the generation of robust technical information and a participatory process that will help identify key actor priorities in the region.

The workshops were organized with the support of the staff of the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and Pronatura Peninsula of Yucatán (PPY), two key partners in the implementation of the project. Workshop participants included representatives from the state government of Yucatán and the municipal governments that comprise the Biosphere Reserve, as well as representatives from the most important economic sectors in the region: fishing, tourism and the salt industry.

In addition to publicizing and promoting the adoption of the project, the workshop was designed with the objective of collecting information about the perceptions of the communities living within the Biosphere Reserve regarding climate change. To do this, a “climatic calendar” exercise was facilitated, through which—with input from the participants—the local climate, its implications on biological and ecological processes, and its relationship to the important economic activities of the community were characterized. Finally, the exercise captured some of the changes in the climate observed by the participants.

Some of the effects of climate change mentioned by the participants were the delay of the rainy season and a longer canícula (short dry season). In addition, participants observed some changes in local biodiversity that have had impacts on the local economy. For example, there has been a notable decrease in species of commercial importance like the octopus and lobster.

In the coming months, follow-up workshops will be organized to begin the process of identifying and prioritizing climate change adaptation measures.

Relatedly, a workshop was held from November 14 to 16, 2018 in Belize City in which technical coordinators from the project in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, as well as academic partners that coordinate the research that will support climate change adaptation processes, participated. In the workshop, preliminary information on climate change projections was presented for project sites, additional information needs were identified and a group of actors was trained in the use of ecosystem service models for decision making.

The project Smart Coasts is implemented under the International Climate Initiative (IKI), which is financed by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU).

This article was written by WWF Mexico. The content of this article is the exclusive responsibility of the author.

From October 15 to 19, 28 stakeholders from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) participated in a Study Tour in Germany. This experience aimed to raise awareness about the climate impact of hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigeration practices currently applied in the LAC region, and to analyze cooling solutions of natural refrigerants to help selected countries comply with their HFC mitigation obligations, as outlined in the Montreal Protocol.

The study trip was organized and financed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Proklima Program and the Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Elimination of Ozone Depleting Substances (SPODS) project, co-financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union.

Private and governmental stakeholders, national refrigeration and air conditioning associations (RACs), and representatives from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) participated in the trip. Among the places visited were several environmentally friendly cooling solution sites and a vocational training center for refrigeration technicians. Experts and scientific leaders on natural refrigerants presented on the safe use of natural refrigerants and their potential for limiting carbon dioxide emissions. In addition, participants visited the Chillventa fair in Nuremberg, which exhibits refrigeration and air conditioning technology. Over the course of the trip, participants strengthened their network of stakeholders committed to advancing green cooling technology, thereby facilitating the technology’s introduction to the market and encouraging improvements in the capacities of refrigeration technicians. Undoubtedly, this study trip was only the beginning of an active cooperation between GIZ, Proklima and the SPODS project’s stakeholder network to help countries participating in the project significantly reduce their emissions in the RAC sector.

Between 2014 and 2018, two water utilities in the municipalities of San Francisco del Rincón and Purísima del Rincón in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico, participated in an innovative pilot project aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through improved efficiency of water and wastewater treatment services.

Energy efficiency assessment of the pumping station in the municipality of Parral, Chihuahua

Mexico’s urban water cycle contributes up to 5% of the total GHG emissions in the country. To reduce their emissions, and lower costs at the same time, the two utilities pioneered implementation of the Roadmap to a Low-Carbon Urban Water Utility in Mexico. The Drinking Water and Sewerage System of San Francisco (SAPAF) operates the utility responsible for the water supply and sewage collection in San Francisco del Rincón, while the Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Service (SITRATA) operates the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) shared by the two municipalities. The roadmap was developed by the Water and Wastewater Companies for Climate Mitigation (WaCCliM) project, a joint initiative of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the International Water Association (IWA). It focuses on climate mitigation and awareness raising to help ensure that water utilities not only adapt to the consequences of climate change, but also play an active role in reducing their carbon footprints.

Diego Dávila (left), Director of SITRATA, describing aspects of the biogas storage unit to the personnel of other WWTPs in the state of Guanajuato; Photo: © Jürgen Baumann

As part of the roadmap, an initial baseline assessment of the two utilities identified untreated wastewater as the main source of GHG emissions in the urban water cycle. Consequently, SAPAF constructed collectors to increase the wastewater treatment coverage. This reduced emissions from CO₂-eq by 2,500 tons per year, which equals the annual emissions of 830 compact cars and represents a 40% decrease in the total emissions in the utilities’ operating areas.

The increased wastewater received by the common wastewater treatment plant posed a new challenge to SITRATA, which had to treat a larger volume without access to additional funds. To overcome this problem, the utility focused on two objectives: optimizing the aeration process and improving biogas production to generate electricity for internal consumption. Thanks to its efforts, SITRATA reduced the energy consumption per cubic meter treated by approximately 10%; it also produces 155,000 kWh annually through its cogeneration system using the methane generated in the anaerobic sludge digestion process, with work ongoing to increase this amount.

Cogeneration system in the Guanajuato WWTP operated by SITRATA; Photo: © Andrés Rojo

Following the lead of SAPAF and SITRATA, the Municipal System of Drinking Water and Sewerage of Moroleón (SMAPAM) in Guanajuato has also started to implement the WaCCliM approach. Efficiency measures in the water supply system have already reduced the electricity SMAPAM consumes for pumping by 6%. The measures included the replacement of the least efficient pumps in the system and the implementation of programs to reduce the local population’s water consumption, which led to less pumped water and, as a result, water and energy conservation. The next step for the utility is to identify and reduce water losses in the distribution system, which are directly related to high energy consumption. WaCCliM is supporting the analysis of water losses and modeling of the distribution network.

In the neighboring state of Querétaro, assessment studies on pumping stations supported by the WaCCliM project have led the State Water Commission of Querétaro to allocate two million pesos (approximately 100,000 EUR) for implementation measures that enhance the efficiency of the pumping stations. In Parral, Chihuahua, in northern Mexico, the utility has also showed great interest in the WaCCliM approach. After an initial energy performance evaluation supported by the WaCCliM project and the renovation of some of its equipment, the utility is funding additional studies on its own, including distribution network modeling and the identification of optimization points in the operating system.

These success stories in Mexico will encourage other water and wastewater utilities to contribute to climate change mitigation while improving service levels and reducing operational costs.

The number of cars was determined using the emission factor of CO₂ (g/km) per car model, assuming that a car travels a total of 15,000 km per year. A mean emission value of nearly three tons/car per year was calculated. See http://www.ecovehiculos.gob.mx/ecovehiculos/ (in Spanish).

Water resources are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, which is why Mexico’s commitments under the Paris Agreement reflect the importance of the water sector in climate change adaptation.

The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) is currently preparing the implementation of the 21 adaptation actions described in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. The Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is supporting the ministry in this preparation and planning process.

In the context of adaptation in the water sector, SEMARNAT, in collaboration with the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance and the Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA), initiated a process to analyze the meaning of action number VI of Axis 2 of the NDC: “Guarantee the integral management of water for its different uses (agriculture, ecological, urban, industrial and domestic)” and action number III of the NDC Axis 3: “Guarantee urban and industrial waste water treatment, ensuring quantity and good quality of water in human settlements larger than 500,000 inhabitants and to monitor their performance.”

To study the initial results of this process, a workshop was held with representatives of the water sector. Specifically, the workshop participants discussed proposals for defining the different concepts of the two NDC actions. They posed the question: If we continue without taking action, what will be the situation in Mexico be like in 2030? and reflected on the likely outcomes of inaction. Some of the greatest concerns involved loss of biodiversity, changes in land use leading to possible social conflicts, effects on the economic and tourist environment, threats to food sovereignty, among others. Subsequently, participants proposed new objectives designed to avoid these scenarios. And based on these goals, they defined measures to achieve them and a roadmap for the two actions of the NDC.

Fourth Dialogue for the Implementation of the NDC

The Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH helped the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) with the development of four dialogues aimed at defining the content and narrative of Mexico’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation Plan. In this fourth dialogue, multilateral and bilateral international organizations, financial organizations, private banks, among others, were invited.

The fourth and final dialogue for the development of the NDC Implementation Plan was held on November 8, 2018 at the SEMARNAT offices. In this dialogue, multilateral and bilateral international organizations, financial institutions, private and capital market banks, among others, were invited. During the meeting, the structure, content and narrative of the Implementation Plan were presented, as well as the steps Mexico has taken to determine its mitigation and adaptation goals and seek technical advice and public and private financing so that it can achieve its conditional targets.

During the dialogue, participants highlighted the importance of increasing access to national and international funding mechanisms for different sectors and government institutions. Also emphasized was the importance of inter-ministry coordination to help ensure the allocation of public resources. There was discussion about the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit’s (SHCP) budgetary role in financing the NDC, and all agreed that it should be involved in the design and implementation of mitigation and adaptation actions.

Subnational governments should also strengthen their financing mechanisms and participate in executive and bankable projects, and these in turn should be part of a portfolio of projects that can be presented to international and national banks—public or private. One of the barriers facing subnational governments is their inability to interact with international financial organizations, since this right is reserved to the SHCP and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE).

Consensus was reached on the need to innovate in climate financing not only to decarbonize the economy, but also to improve adaptation to climate change. Financial mechanisms and insurance for disposable assets that can generate a loss or a risk for investors also need to be developed. Also discussed was the possibility to make interest rates more flexible in green projects and share the risk between more stakeholders benefiting from the projects; or to adapt the logic of financial organizations to direct beneficiaries of the project who may not meet all the financing requirements, such as indigenous communities who lack property titles and guarantees. One proposal even suggested creating a guarantee fund to overcome this limitation.

To increase funding sources, it is important to systematize existing and future projects and show the benefits and co-benefits of financing green projects. Moreover, private banks need to perceive these types of actions as profitable. One way to achieve this would be by selling carbon credits at the start of projects.

Mexico should also include an effective accountability mechanism in its Implementation Plan that helps trace the resources committed and their impact on meeting the conditions of the NDC. This will increase confidence in the country and attract more investments and financing.

Technical and financial cooperation are key for the Implementation Plan to support cross-cutting issues such as the gender perspective, human rights and the relationship of the NDC with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Third Dialogue for the Implementation of the NDC

On November 6, 2018, the third dialogue was held at the SEMARNAT offices in support of Mexico’s NDC Implementation Plan, in which experts and representatives from the agriculture and livestock, as well the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF), sectors were invited. The dialogue focused on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and on adaptation in the social sector and of production systems. Proposals were presented for the content, structure and narrative of the plan, as a basis for opening a space for dialogue between experts on specific topics.

Mexico’s progress towards adaptation was presented, beginning with the fact that Mexico was a pioneer in including adaptation commitments from the Paris Agreement in its national policies. In this dialogue, key questions were asked about the legal framework, climate financing, the institutional framework and cross-cutting issues to be included in the Implementation Plan.

The importance of pursuing adaptation actions for the country was highlighted, as the results and co-benefits of these are key to the resilience of different productive sectors, and to increasing social equality and respect for human rights, which leads to sustainable development. Adaptation actions should increase the capacity of all actors that form part of the value chain of the different climate sectors. In addition, regional and sectoral measures must be established and prioritized.

As part of the dialogue, there was discussion about how to strengthen the participation of academia, research institutions and civil organizations so that practices related to agriculture, production and EbA can be improved. One example given was the innovative approach of the Sierra Gorda Ecological Group in Querétaro.

The participants agreed that the Implementation Plan should establish financing mechanisms that support access to agricultural conservation and sustainability technologies; promote regenerative urban agriculture projects; include vulnerable groups (especially women) and take affirmative actions to reduce inequalities related to, for example, land access; and ensure sustainable use of ecosystems and biodiversity. Also highlighted was the need to include social and environmental safeguards in the Hydrocarbons Law to ensure that bidding processes include mitigation and adaptation guidelines for energy projects.

Participants also suggested that the Implementation Plan review the programs, financing and incentives that promote an unsustainable use of territory or potentially have harmful effects on producers. Two examples of such projects were an initiative by the Trust Funds for Rural Development (FIRA) that finances the introduction and exploitation of palm oil in Campeche, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) supported Livestock Development Program (PROGAN); both projects expand agricultural and livestock borders to the detriment of plant cover.

Second Dialogue for the Implementation of the NDC

The Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH helped the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) develop four dialogues aimed at defining the content and narrative of Mexico’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation Plan. In this second dialogue, experts and key actors from the residential, commercial, industrial and waste management sectors were invited.

On October 31, 2018, a second dialogue was held at the SEMARNAT offices in support of the preparation of the NDC Implementation Plan for Mexico. During the event, proposals were presented for the content, structure and narrative of the plan, as a basis for opening a space for dialogue between experts on specific topics.

Participants discussed the legal changes that should be promoted to help ensure these sectors not only mitigate greenhouse gases (GHGs), but also increase their ambition to meet the goals set out in the NDC. They highlighted the need to comply with Official Mexican Standards (NOMs) on climate so that the use of devices helps enhance implementation efficiency.

The achievements of different financing models in the residential and commercial sector were recognized—for example, the EcoCasa Program, which generates synergies between National Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). Similarly, it was stressed that NAMAs for housing and urban issues should continue and be promoted. Pending issues were also identified, such as the need for municipalities to play a more active role in mitigation efforts by adopting Mexico’s building energy efficiency codes and applying and updating their construction regulations.

The dialogue identified an absence of effective economic and fiscal incentives that allow the industry to adopt energy management systems. These incentives include Ecocredits, the facilitation of procedures, an emissions trading system and clear, long-term rules that give legal and financial assurance to the investments of industry self-supply systems. They also discussed how the modifications made to productive systems for the use of natural gas have not guaranteed sufficient supply and competitive prices of natural gas with respect to diesel.

The need to strengthen the legal framework at the national and subnational levels was raised. This will help reduce the generation of solid waste, and ensure adequate management throughout, from the classification stage to recycling, final disposal, recovery, and the capture or burning of methane in sanitary landfills; in summary, it will help achieve a life cycle and circular economy approach in solid waste management. In fact, one proposal discussed creating the conditions to expand the use of biogas for different industrial sectors.

Another of the topics highlighted during the dialogue was interinstitutional and intergovernmental coordination as strategic components in the preparation of the NDC Implementation Plan; as well as the involvement of the private sector.

The Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH helped the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) develop four dialogue tables aimed at defining the content and narrative of Mexico’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Implementation Plan. The sessions were held from October 29 to November 2 at the SEMARNAT offices.

The four dialogues included key actors from the following sectors: electric power; oil and gas; transport; agriculture and livestock; Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF); residential and commercial; industrial and waste management. They focused on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and on adaptation in the social sector and of productive systems.

These dialogues helped establish a space for reflection, analysis and debate with experts representing the strategic sectors of the NDC. Through the dialogues, a narrative was presented, debated and agreed on for the NDC Implementation Plan, the government instrument that will lay the foundation for an implementation route to 2030. This route is crucial to addressing the urgency of taking mitigation measures that ensure the earth’s temperature does not increase by more than 1.5°C.

The first dialogue, held on November 30, 2018, focused on the mitigation contributions of the most important sectors—transport, power generation, and oil and gas—to the national inventory of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

A diversity of issues were addressed. In the energy sector, participants highlighted the need to continue with the substitution of heavy fuels, such as the replacement of oil with natural gas; expand the energy reform to achieve a greater penetration of clean energy, self-supply and distributed generation; continue reducing fugitive emissions; and improve the mechanisms for the capture, storage and use of CO².

With respect to the transport sector, there was consensus that the NDC should include guidelines to eradicate the importation of used vehicles, return to using suburban and interstate trains; apply and update emission and energy efficiency standards, as well as climate incentives to meet targets; and take measures to mitigate black carbon emissions.

Among the most relevant suggestions made by the sector representatives were to promote the inclusion of the value chain in the oil and gas sector; improve coordination between government levels and in the design and implementation of sectoral programs so that the goals of the NDC are met and expanded; include civil society organizations; ensure respect for human rights and the inclusion of gender perspectives in all actions proposed in the Implementation Plan; and promote equal opportunities among the Mexican population. Other important issues addressed were the need to strengthen communication between the technical and administrative areas of institutions at all levels, continuously update the subsectors involved in order to increase mitigation ambitions and achieve effective climate change adaptation.

Within the framework of the Paris Agreement, technology development and transfer are essential to improve resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The process of generating, developing, promoting and transferring low-carbon (CO₂) technology is a key element in achieving climate mitigation and adaptation goals. Hence, it is important to generate spaces for dialogue about the current situation of Mexico regarding climate change and discuss areas of opportunity for developing the necessary mechanisms to facilitate technology transfer to emerging economies.

Welcome by Álvaro Luna, Adaptation Advisor of the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance of the *Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH* and Juan Carlos Belausteguigoitia of the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM).

Climate Technology Transfer Mechanisms and Networks for Latin America and the Caribbean. Speaker: Ana María Contreras (INECC)

The National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC) is a focal point in the development of technology transfer networks and the strengthening of technical capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Among the main activities that INECC carries out are the followi

Constant search for ways to improve new technologies that respond to current climate change needs
Strengthening of technology transfer centers
Appropriate leveraging of private and public investment
Creation and strengthening of capacities

Information and Communication Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation in Cities (TIC-A). Arturo Cadena (GIZ)

Based on the Internet of Things technology, the Internet of Trees was created, a project that focuses on citizen participation and seeks to collect relevant information on climate change mitigation and adaptation through three elements:

A mobile application
Environmental sensors of humidity, noise, temperature, radiation and particles of matter
A digital multiplatform to visualize data

This project seeks to collect data about the state of urban trees in the city of Guadalajara. It does so by using the technological capabilities offered by smartphones, which include three complementary functions:

Interactive map
Data validator
Learning module

A clear example of climate adaptation through digital means, TIC-A is currently in the process of being transferred to the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara. According to TIC-A, the key to a successful technology transfer process includes the following:

Create interactive and open documentation
Design modular systems
Generate guided support mechanisms
Continuously assess capabilities in cities
Institute a pilot program
Conduct an interactive evaluation
Elaborate products with service schemes

The Case of Agriculture. Ernesto Fernández (FIRA)

According to the National Inventory of Emissions of Gases and Greenhouse Compounds (INEGYCEI), the agricultural sector contributes 12% of GHGs in Mexico. Through its sustainable financing strategy established in the 2013 – 2018 Institutional Plan, the Trust Funds for Rural Development (FIRA) committed itself to being a recurrent issuer of sustainable bonds. Its first green bond in the agricultural sector was for the amount of 2,500 million pesos on the Mexican Stock Exchange. FIRA’s portfolio includes green projects related to sustainable agriculture, efficient water and energy use, and biodiversity. The portfolio is supported by Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and aligned with the guidelines of the International Capital Market Association’s (ICMA) Green Bond Principles.

Early Alerts for Adaptation and Climate Services. Guadalupe Matías Ramírez (CENAPRED).

The National Center for Disaster Prevention (CENAPRED) is an important institution for knowledge production around issues relating to the reduction of natural and anthropogenic risks. Through a series of early warning systems and citizen participation, a collaboration has been created that promotes the strengthening of capacities regarding the high risk of climate change. In addition, the first flood management schemes were created by increasing knowledge around risk management, monitoring information and sharing it with the population.

The Case of Water. Claudia Cervantes, Mexican Institute of Water Technology (IMTA).

One side effect of climate change is the risk associated with water shortages caused by prolonged droughts. Water security is a matter of international relevance and crucial to the future of society. Technology transfer is particularly important in this regard because the fourth industrial revolution includes a series of technologies that can help reduce the risk associated with the scarcity of water resources throughout the country. It also plays an essential role for water security since national and subnational governments need adequate tools to manage existing resources. Through geospatial technologies, the Internet of Things and big data, large amounts of meteorological and hydrological information can be obtained and managed that help identify areas with scarce water.

The Climate Change and Innovation of Transparency Technology seminar was organized by the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and commissioned by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM). Held on October 30, 2018, the seminar focused on transparency technology in the context of climate change in Mexico and existing areas of opportunity. The session forms part of a series of seminars held since 2016 that seek to generate spaces for conversation between sectors about how to better confront climate change.

National and international agri-food companies that seek to include natural capital in their business plans meet. This presents an opportunity to ensure the sustainability of the sector in the face of pressures related to water and soil impacts and climate change, and about how to maintain leadership in a changing market.

The agri-food sector has great socioeconomic and cultural importance for the country and is highly dependent on our ecosystem’s services, its natural capital. However, in 2018 our agri-food system finds itself under tremendous pressure. Consumers are asking for a change in how we produce our food and for more transparency in the value chain. The agri-food sector, with agricultural businesses as the main suppliers, is well placed to confront this challenge and help in the move towards a future eco-agri-food system.

On November 6, the event Agriculture, Natural Capital and Business: Alternatives to Take Advantage of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Agri-Food Sector was held in Mexico City, as part of the Week of Sustainable Agriculture Mexico-Germany. Representatives from the private, public and civil society sectors met to present and discuss options for taking advantage of natural capital. The space served as a platform for exchanging experiences and lessons learned between companies. The event was organized with the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Integration of Biodiversity in the Agricultural Sector Project, the Private Business Action for Biodiversity Global Project of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Mexican Alliance for Biodiversity and Business (AMEBIN) and the German Embassy in Mexico.

Companies and initiatives from Germany, Brazil, Switzerland and Mexico participated in the event, which offered private agri-food sector companies guidance for taking advantage of natural capital so that they can remain as leaders in a changing market.

Speakers from Mexico, Germany, Brazil and Switzerland presented their experiences and lessons learned relevant to the integration of natural capital into business plans.

Important contributions were made by Rodrigo Medellín, researcher at the Institute of Ecology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) about the tequila initiative’s “Bat-Friendly” seal, and by Alejandro von Bertrab on the GIZ ValuES Project. Both initiatives are useful for recognizing and demonstrating the value of renewable and non-renewable resources and their benefits for human beings, as well as the best way to integrate them into public policy planning and use them as positive market forces.

Participating in the panel discussion Integrating Biodiversity in Practice were Green Markets, an international initiative of GIZ Brazil, as well as the companies Syngenta, Merca Rancho and Driscoll’s. They discussed the challenges and opportunities for integrating natural capital into businesses and offered concrete recommendations for companies seeking to incorporate this approach into their business plan

Representatives from the private, public and civil society sectors met to present and discuss options for taking advantage of natural capital.

In the panel Mexican Alliance for Biodiversity and Business as Promoter of Biodiversity in Businesses, AMEBIN members from the Walmart Foundation, the Rainforest Alliance, Conservation International and Neek’ Capital discussed financing options and incentives for businesses seeking to integrate biodiversity and natural capital.

Prior to the event, GIZ also offered a training on tools for identifying the links between nature and businesses, as well as for mitigating operational, regulatory and reputational risks, and taking advantage of opportunities to integrate biodiversity and ecosystem services into the agri-food sector.

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