Within the framework of capacity strengthening in the subnational area, the global program “Financing Energy for Low-carbon Investment Cities Advisory Facility” (FELICITY) in collaboration with the “Program for Energy Efficiency in Buildings” (PEEB) and the consulting firm ECOLONER, held a training workshop in Mexico City to present to the political and financial leaders the benefits and the financing and tangible options in the transformation of the building sector.

The workshop took place on October 17, 2019 at Quinta Colorada, located in Bosque de Chapultepec in Mexico City, with a total of 39 participants, 19 women and 20 men, who were representing different federal agencies, like the Ministry of Environment (SEDEMA), Single Housing Registry (RUV), Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), Ministry of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development (SEDATU), Electric Transportation Service (STE), Ministry of Inclusion and Social Welfare (SIBISO), National Housing Commission (CONAVI), Public Works and Services Department of the CDMX (SOBSE), Collective Transportation System Metro (STC), Ministry of Health of Mexico City (SEDESA), Federal Mortgage Society (SHF) and Energy Savings Trust (FIDE), as well as representatives of different municipalities of Mexico City.

The welcome and introduction of the workshop was given by Itzel Alcérreca, Advisor to the Global FELICITY Project, who gave an overview on the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development (GIZ) and its work in Mexico, as well as its programs, main themes and global projects, concluding with an explanation about the FELICITY program and its relation to this workshop.

Likewise, Liliana Campos, PEEB technical advisor presented her program and main objectives, such as reducing the energy demand for the construction sector to a minimum level and encouraging investments in energy efficient buildings.

The workshop was led by Manuel de Diego Olmedo, representing the Econoler consultancy, who has more than 25 years of experience in consulting for energy efficiency and clean energy projects, both in the private and public sectors. His presentation covered the foundations for the financing of energy efficiency in buildings, the challenges to finance energy efficiency in buildings, large-scale policies, key financial indicators, as well as international financing options and funds.

There was also the participation of Ismael Díaz, an independent consultant in public policies and international finance, who gave a presentation and a series of exercises on Finance for non-financiers.

Finally, to conclude the workshop, an evaluation of the training was carried out by the attendees where satisfactory results were obtained.

Linking climate finance and leveraging private investments for energy efficiency in buildings is the key to achieving the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

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

For more information, see the GIZ- FELICITY and PEEB sites.