Completion of the Second Cycle of the Flagship Cities Initiative
Flagship Cities, an initiative of the Covenant of Mayors, implemented by ICLEI South America, drives local climate change actions in Latin America.
The Flagship Cities initiative, led by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) in Latin America with financial support from the European Union, along with ICLEI SAMS, successfully celebrated the end of its second training cycle. During this cycle, five Latin American cities participated: La Unión (Costa Rica), Godoy Cruz (Argentina), Independencia (Chile), and Peñalolén (Chile). These cities were selected after receiving recognition medals for their adaptation and mitigation actions, being fully compliant with the initiative and standing out for their commitment and dedication in the fight against climate change.
Hélinah Cardoso, coordinator of the GCoM for the Americas, highlighted the importance of this innovative initiative and its contribution to the progress of cities. “From the GCoM, we believe that strengthening the internal capacities of municipalities translates into better preparation to drive climate projects and access funding sources that lead to concrete actions in the lives of citizens,” she said.
The Flagship Cities initiative aims to empower Latin American cities to develop financially sustainable projects that address the challenges of climate change. In this cycle, participating cities benefited from a series of training sessions and mentoring, aimed at the preparation, financing, and implementation of local climate action projects. Gap Fund, CCFLA, and FMDV provided insights into financing mechanisms; CAF, IDB, and CDP worked with cities on methods to improve the development of climate projects; GIZ assisted in project implementation stages; and TAP promoted business exchanges and experiences between Latin American and European cities. These collaborations significantly contributed to empowering cities to address the challenges of climate change and develop financially sustainable projects for the benefit of the Latin American region.
About the Featured Projects in the Second Cycle
The cities selected to participate in the second cycle of Flagship Cities advanced in preparing to finance a series of outstanding local projects that will enrich the fight against climate change.
In La Unión, Costa Rica, the “Municipal Environmental and Recreational ‘Los Lotes'” project aims to provide an accessible green space for the community, promoting education and environmental conservation. With it, visitors will be able to learn about the water purification process and the management of natural resources in the Tiribí River Protected Zone.
In Argentina, in the municipality of Godoy Cruz, the “Godoy Cruz Solar Park” project focuses on expanding the existing solar park to 2 MW of installed capacity. This project developed in the second cycle promotes clean energy and saves conventional energy, while contributing to distributed energy generation. The first stage of the development of the Godoy Cruz Solar Park is being supported by the City Climate Finance Gap Fund through RAMCC. With the training, the technical team from Godoy Cruz received insights on how to better expand the project’s reach to secure international financing and implement it locally.
From Independencia, Chile, the “Urban Ecological Corridors Network” project aims to transform the Independencia commune into a transition space for the Mapocho River and nearby hills. With it, biodiversity is sought to be fostered, adaptation to climate change improved, and the effects of extreme heat and heat islands in the urban area combated.
The “Home Composting Program,” proposed by Peñalolén, Chile, aims to reduce municipal organic waste and contribute to climate mitigation. The project expands the home composting program and seeks to accurately measure its contribution to reducing waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
These projects represent a significant step towards a more sustainable and resilient future for participating cities and serve as inspiring examples for other cities in Latin America. This Flagship Cities initiative is a unique opportunity for the exchange of experiences and knowledge in the fight against climate change, and it is hoped that these leading cities will inspire the entire Latin American region towards a more sustainable future. Furthermore, the activity promotes collaboration between different areas of government of municipalities, which often need to work cross-functionally for projects to have a holistic view and encompass the complexity of local public policy.
The Third Cycle of Flagship Cities is coming.
In our third and final cycle of Flagship Cities, we are pleased to announce the participation of major cities and capitals of Latin America: Zapopan (MEX), Mexico City (MEX), Cartagena (CO), Santiago (CH), Cuenca (EC), and Quito (EC). These cities join the initiative with the commitment to address the challenges of climate change and develop financially sustainable projects.
If you would like to learn more about the Cycle 1 of the Flagship Cities, you can read more here. Together, we are building a more sustainable future for the entire Latin American region.
For more information about the Flagship Cities initiative, please contact: [email protected]