Based on the achievements of the first phase of the project, the program Water and Wastewater Companies for Climate Mitigation (WaCCliM) continues into the period 2020-22 with the main aim of supporting the water and sanitation sector in the implementation of the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), mainstreaming their approach to mitigation and adaptation, and continuing to raise awareness and develop the capacities of Operating Organisms (O.O.). The program is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with the International Water Association (IWA). For this part of the program, the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) 2019-2022 is a direct counterpart, alongside the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), as instructed by the Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the International Climate Initiative (IKI).

The main objectives sought in this new phase are 1) to have O.O.s contribute to a low-carbon and climate-resilient sector; 2) to mainstream the approach and strategies for both climate change mitigation and adaptation focused on the urban water cycle; and 3) to increase the ambition to comply with the NDC, in which the sector’s operating organisms are key actors.

It will continue with the lines of work that involve the awareness of actors, capacity building, strengthening of operating agencies at a local level, and encouragement for the use and improvement of the Energy Performance and Carbon Emissions Assessment and Monitoring Tool (ECAM). The technical support for O.O. implementation measures will also continue and include energy efficiency diagnostics, identification of water losses in distribution systems, and the reduction of direct methane emissions in wastewater treatment, among others.

The idea of this new phase is to incorporate innovative elements such as digital technology components and studies of climate risks in O.O.s alongside a corresponding prioritization of measures, as well as including climate change adaptation in capacity development within O.O.s, and mainstreaming the co-benefits that derive from an increase in resilience.

The purpose is to promote more efficient processes and technologies from service providers to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this way, the project also helps to improve climate change mitigation strategies for public water and wastewater services.

For more information, please visit the following websites and social networks of the WaCCliM Program or contact Bianca Corona, the WaCCliM advisor in Mexico: bianca.corona@giz.de

Official Website: www.wacclim.org

Knowledge management: www.climatesmartwater.org

Twitter: @WaCCliM_Project