The consequences of climate change, such as rising temperatures, rising sea levels and the intensification of extreme hydro-meteorological events can have adverse effects on ecosystems, production systems and the quality of life of the population. Because Mexico is a country highly vulnerable to these impacts, it is a priority to have robust adaptation and mitigation policies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase resilience and strengthen the country’s adaptive capacity.
In order to support Mexico in meeting its climate goals and to promote a greener and more inclusive future, the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance, implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and part of the International Climate Protection Initiative (IKI), is working with the Government of Mexico to strengthen the country’s climate policy.
We invite you to learn about the efforts to contribute to Mexico’s commitments to the Paris Agreement, resulting from the #CooperACTION driven by the Mexican-German Climate Change Alliance. Click on the image below:
The third edition of the Climate Change Action Groups (CCAGs) was a space for dialogue and exchange of experiences between public servants at the subnational level that allowed them to hear first-hand about experiences, successes and areas of opportunity in the implementation of projects on green infrastructure, circular economies, society and climate. This initiative has been created by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in collaboration with the Mexican Association of Municipal Planning Institutes (AMIMP), the Mexican Climate Community (CCM) and Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI).
Held from 4 to 7 July, the GACCs focused on a specific theme each day. In total, 596 people participated, and 25 sessions were held to share experiences about case studies and the implementation of best practices at the local level. For example, three keynote speeches by representatives from Germany discussed examples of important projects that address the impacts of climate change – from the experiences of various cities such as Freiburg in the circular economy; the Berlin Climate Change Action Plan 2022-2026; and the Hamburg Green Network.
Below, find a summary of the four days of the GACC.
Green Infrastructure
The focus of the first day was on green infrastructure. Green infrastructure can be used, for example, to reduce runoff in times of rainfall by harnessing the retention and absorption capacities of vegetation and soil. In these cases, green infrastructure, in addition to meeting the needs of human societies, can increase carbon sequestration, improve air quality, mitigate the urban heat island effect and increase resilience in vulnerable populations, such as coastal cities.
One of the experiences highlighted was that of Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas, in particular the process of developing its municipal green infrastructure standard and how coordination between different areas of the municipal government supports such initiatives. The Green Infrastructure Network promoted by GIZ Mexico through the CiClim and BIOCITIS projects was presented.
Keynote address “The Hamburg Green Network and citizen participation processes” given by Dr. Cornelia Peters from the Behörde für Umwelt, Klima, Energie und Agrarwirtschaft (BUKEA)
Circular Economy
On the second day, experiences were exchanged on circular economy instruments, sustainable consumption of electronic devices and inter-municipal solutions to reduce plastic pollution. They also discussed the implementation of energy efficiency and how it can reduce pressure on the environment, improving efficiency in the supply chain of raw materials and promoting economic growth and increased employment.
During the parallel sessions, state authorities expressed strong interest in generating a shared network of knowledge and information on recycling centres and events through the RAECO mobile application implemented by GIZ. Representatives from Chiapas, Chihuahua and the State of Mexico showed interest in including their own events in the application.
Presentación de RAECO en la sesión “Consumo sustentable de aparatos electrónicos” de los GACC
Society and Climate Change
The cornerstone of the third day was the role of society in climate change. They discussed how different sectors of society play a key role in climate governance because the willingness of business, government, academia and civil society can have a positive or negative impact on the fight against global temperature rise.
Ponencia Magistral “Plan de Cambio Climático en Berlin 2022 – 2026” impartida por Alejandro Fanegas, Berliner Energieagentur GmbH.
Digitalisation tools
Finally, the last day addressed the importance of digital tools in accelerating the transition towards a circular economy and the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially as related to the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life in urban populations.
Keynote address “How does digitization help the sustainable development of cities?” Taught by Ileana Cerón from FabCity Yucatán
The creation of this type of space for the exchange of ideas and experiences allows for the construction of synergies between public and private sector actors at the local, national and international level to learn about progress, challenges and opportunities, as well as to create alliances in the fight against climate change.
Thus, for the third consecutive year, the GACCs have collaborated to strengthen and improve communication and the implementation of local projects that contribute significantly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The approach to the co-benefits of renewable energy and energy efficiency is a tool that allows decision-makers, as well as experts in climate change and energy, to visualise the positive effects derived from sustainable energy projects.
These co-benefits go beyond greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, as renewable energy projects can have a positive impact on the social, economic and environmental spheres. This could be by generating jobs and savings, increasing investments and the well-being of the population, education or training, to name but a few.
In this way, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, through the project Enhancing the Coherence of Climate and Energy Policies in Mexico (CONECC) at the invitation of the Tamaulipas Energy Commission (CETAM), took part in the presentation of the results and lessons learned from the co-benefit quantification exercise of the Bicentennial Photovoltaic Park project, in Ciudad Victoria, which is part of the quantification pilot programme.
The event was held within the framework of the Tamaulipas Solar Week 2021. In this meeting, Antonieta Gómez López, head of the CETAM office, provided a welcome emphasising the importance of the co-benefits approach and its quantification to ensure a fair transition to more sustainable energy.
The event took place on September 27 with more than 200 attendees. You can find out more details and results of the co-benefits quantification of the Photovoltaic Park through the following disclosure sheet.
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.
With the development of these workshops, work continues on the construction and capacity building at state level in the north and south of the country for the achievement in the construction and implementation of good State Climate Change Programs.
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 
