La Estrella shares its experience with the GCoM Latam delegation
The agenda brought together mayors from the Forum and GCoM Latam’s technical advisor on climate finance in an exchange on territorial climate action, biodiversity, citizen science and cooperation among local governments.
The Municipality of La Estrella welcomed, on September 30, the delegation of the Mayors Forum of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy in Latin America (GCoM Latam), as part of the group’s participation in Medellín Climate Week, in Colombia.
The activity was an initiative of the Municipality of La Estrella, promoted by Mayor Mario Gutiérrez, with the objective of creating a space for exchange among Latin American cities and sharing local experiences connected to territorial climate action.
The agenda included the participation of Janet Yvone Castagne, mayor of Coronel Portillo, Peru; Erick Jiménez, mayor of Oreamuno, Costa Rica; and Guillermo Piñones, GCoM Latam’s technical advisor on climate finance. The delegation was received by Mario Gutiérrez in a program dedicated to the exchange of local experiences and the strengthening of ties among local governments.
“Receiving the GCoM Latam Forum delegation is an opportunity to strengthen exchange among cities and share experiences that connect climate action, biodiversity, citizen science and environmental heritage. From La Estrella, we believe in cooperation among local governments as a fundamental path to building more sustainable and resilient territories,” said Mario Gutiérrez.
During the visit, the delegation learned about several initiatives led by the Municipality of La Estrella related to biodiversity, partnerships between universities and local government, citizen science, and historical and environmental heritage, as well as experiences driven from the territory to strengthen local climate action.
One of the aspects highlighted by the delegation was the involvement of children and young people in awareness-raising processes on environmental care. The experience also showed how coordination between the municipality and academia can contribute to research on solutions to local challenges, such as agriculture-related problems, through alternatives based on nature itself and without the need to rely on pesticides.
The agenda also opened a space for dialogue on the development of climate projects and the common challenges faced by local governments in building more resilient, sustainable cities that are connected to their communities.
For Janet Yvone Castagne, mayor of Coronel Portillo, the visit helped broaden references on territorial solutions and strengthen learning among cities. “The visit to La Estrella allowed us to learn about local experiences that connect nature, community and urban planning. For Coronel Portillo, this exchange is very valuable because it helps us look at new ways to strengthen climate resilience, especially in territories facing increasingly frequent environmental risks. Learning from other cities inspires us to continue advancing with more integrated solutions that are closer to the needs of the population,” she said.
Erick Jiménez, mayor of Oreamuno, also highlighted the value of exchange among local governments. “The experience in La Estrella was an example of how local governments can lead transformation processes from their own territories. Learning about initiatives linked to biodiversity, citizen science and environmental heritage allows us to broaden our perspective on climate action and think about new opportunities for our cities. These spaces for exchange among mayors are essential to share lessons learned and strengthen regional cooperation,” he said.
For Guillermo Piñones, the visit reinforced the value of direct exchange among cities and learning from concrete experiences in the territory. “These visits allow cities to learn from one another through concrete experiences in the territory. La Estrella shows how climate action can connect with biodiversity, citizen science, heritage and local participation. For GCoM, these exchange spaces are essential to strengthen capacities, expand partnerships and support local governments in building more resilient and inclusive climate solutions,” he said.
In addition to the technical spaces, the agenda was also an opportunity to strengthen institutional ties among local leaders. After the visit, the delegation took part in a dinner hosted by Mayor Mario Gutiérrez, as part of this space for dialogue and exchange among Latin American cities.
The visit to La Estrella complemented GCoM Latam’s agenda at Medellín Climate Week, which also included the mayors’ participation in panels on nature-based solutions, climate risks, technical cooperation and financing for local climate action.
