The development of sustainable energy projects at the local level is key to promoting the energy transition and climate protection. Furthermore, its correct implementation will maximize the positive effects by unleashing additional benefits within the environmental, social and economic pillars.

The GIZ, through the Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC) project, in coordination with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), held a presentation meeting to establish the preliminary bases of the pilot program for the quantification of co-benefits, one of the main milestones of the second phase of the Co-Benefits México project. The objective is to provide tools to public policy makers in order to incorporate the co-benefits of sustainable energy into decision-making processes, by quantifying its positive results and thus creating a greater socio-economic impact.

Jonas Russbild, Director of the CONECC Project, shared a welcome message for the selected projects and took the opportunity to give an introduction on the accompaniment that GIZ provides in Mexico as a catalyst for national efforts for climate action. In turn, Martín Aguilar, on behalf of SEMARNAT, stressed that this is a great opportunity to make visible and account for the potential benefits derived from strengthening capacities and actions to mitigate climate change.

The aim of this meeting was to share the work mechanics and scope of this pilot program with the six projects selected from a public call. The participating projects are located in the states of Tamaulipas, Yucatán, Hidalgo, Guanajuato and Coahuila; covering, on the one hand, issues such as community renewable energy generation, as well as small and large-scale; and, on the other hand, energy efficiency measures in buildings and public services. More than 35 participants from the public and non-governmental sector from different state and national organizations participated in the meeting.

Finally, it should be noted that this pilot program for the quantification of co-benefits will make it possible to identify characteristics and needs of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, from which a work plan will be integrated and a tool for quantification of co-benefits will be developed – benefits that allow both SEMARNAT and other actors to quantify the positive impacts derived from the implementation of climate protection projects. The pilot program is scheduled to take place during the period of February and August 2021.