The National Advisory Committee of Mexico held a meeting last Wednesday (11) to assess and conclude the activities carried out within the framework of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy between 2018 and 2020. During the virtual meeting, which marked the conclusion of the first phase of the Covenant’s implementation, the Climate Action Plans completed by the five pilot cities supported by the initiative were highlighted. Information on climate financing developed in the country for the consolidation of the Covenant was also presented.
The coordinator of the Covenant in Mexico, Eugenia García, recalled that the global alliance began its activities in the country in 2018, and during the period, many actions were taken, such as events with cities and technical training sessions. Eugenia also pointed out that the country currently has 88 committed local governments, and the pilot cities that have successfully completed their Climate Action Plans will now serve as examples and inspiration for others.
According to Silvia Rivas, the representative of the Joint Research Centre of the European Union (JRC), Mexico is a special case due to its capacity and openness to rethink the actions related to climate action. Rivas congratulated the cities, expressing pride in the achieved results so far, and emphasized that the next crucial step is to implement the objectives of the Climate Action Plans developed by the cities.
Shannon McDaniel, the Director of Data at the Global Covenant Secretariat, also congratulated the cities, acknowledging the climate commitment expressed in each process that led to the development of climate action plans and their reporting to the Covenant.
Addressing the next steps, Manuel Carmona Yebra, the policy officer at the Directorate-General for Climate Action of the European Union (DG Clima), highlighted that a new phase of cooperation will begin, and the EU’s support will continue in the next stage.
Pilot Cities Panel
In the panel moderated by José Alfredo Vargas from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the five cities shared their experiences and perspectives in response to the question “What governance mechanisms do you think are necessary to achieve your climate and territorial goals?” and specific questions for each city raised by Vargas.
Beatriz Martínez, representing the municipality of Bahía de Banderas, emphasized the importance of “transparency and citizen participation in all government actions, especially those related to climate change.” She also highlighted the importance of aligning institutions at the national and international levels to provide training to local governments.
Aligned with Martínez’s perspective, Alberto Medrano from Culiacán emphasized the relevance of cross-cutting governance mechanisms and “consolidating citizen participation and involving all sectors of society,” aiming to break down geographical borders. This interconnected work aspect was also emphasized by Philip Norrie, the representative of Ciudad Madero, who considers coexistence and collaborative work with neighboring governments as relevant, adopting a “more regional than local” vision as a way to progress more successfully.
“Administration is finite, so it is necessary to involve people in the process,” said Verônica Gonzales from Ciudad Juárez, pointing out that her city is also strengthening social and citizen participation as a way to consolidate the Covenant. For her, another aspect deserving attention is the evident need for education on climate change.
Finally, Juan Luis Sube from Zapopan addressed another central element in strengthening the global mayoral alliance: the economic aspect and its impact on the fight against climate change. According to him, “the climate fund and the generation of information are challenges that still need to be overcome in the climate battle.”
The cities share their progress in the videos below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJbj-BoW77c&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=IUC-LAC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nX8N-U0B6Y&ab_channel=IUC-LAC
