Flagship Cities programe from the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy enters its third cycle
The initiative provides technical support for local actions against climate change in Latin America.
March 18, 2024 – The “Flagship Cities” initiative, funded by the European Union through its Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy – implemented with technical support from ICLEI South America – began its third and final cycle in February 2024. Designed to provide technical support and facilitate funding for actions to combat the climate crisis in cities, the program has already supported nine Latin American cities in its first two cycles, held in 2023. Participating cities were selected for their outstanding performance in climate mitigation and adaptation actions.
In this third cycle, the program will work with the Mexican cities of Zapopan and Mexico City; Cartagena in Colombia; Santiago in Chile; and the Ecuadorian cities of Cuenca and Quito.
Hélinah Cardoso, regional director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in the Americas, emphasizes the importance of this initiative: “We are excited to begin the final cycle of counseling in major capitals, such as Mexico City and Zapopan (Mexico), Cartagena (Colombia), Santiago (Chile), Cuenca and Quito (Ecuador), as we recognize the importance of developing concrete mitigation and adaptation projects that can improve local quality of life and respond to the climate impacts these cities are already experiencing. These cities have many ideas and are already references in various climate actions, continuing the development of solutions for their population.”
Cities supported by the initiative create outstanding environmental actions
Participating cities in previous phases have led efforts to combat climate change through innovative projects in Latin America. The first cycle of the initiative was composed exclusively of Brazilian cities, which developed project proposals for international financing covering different themes: Belo Horizonte worked on waste management and urban planning; Rio de Janeiro focused on climate governance and budget planning; Salvador focused its efforts on health and green buildings, while Serra Talhada addressed nature-based solutions. In addition, the Program offered training and mentoring that brought together mayors, technical teams, and experts to improve their projects. These are municipalities that, together, represent a population of millions of people positively impacted by the actions of their local governments.
During the second cycle, La Unión, in Costa Rica, made progress in the development of its “Los Lotes” project, which seeks to create an accessible green space, promoting environmental education and conservation. Cristian Torres Garita, Mayor of La Unión, highlighted the firm commitment and dedication that his government has shown in the fight against climate change, emphasizing that “we recently updated our cantonal Greenhouse Gas Inventory and initiated the Climate Mitigation Plan thanks to the training received by the Global Covenant of Mayors. We continue to advance in concrete actions to strengthen the climate resilience of the region.”
On the other hand, the municipality of Godoy Cruz, Argentina, focused on expanding the “Godoy Cruz Solar Park” to promote clean energies and contribute to distributed energy generation. In Chile, the commune of Independencia developed the “Urban Ecological Corridors Network” project, aiming to increase biodiversity and combat the effects of extreme heat. Meanwhile, Peñalolén proposed the “Domestic Composting Program” to reduce organic waste. Hundreds of thousands of inhabitants living in cities committed to a sustainable future.
The program seeks to create positive examples and develop best practices to be replicated throughout Latin America
The projects developed in the program not only strengthen the participating cities but also serve as inspiration for the entire Latin American region.
Being part of the Flagship Cities is a unique opportunity for the exchange of experiences and technical knowledge necessary for the fight against climate change. They are cities with diverse profiles that receive free technical training for their teams, in addition to facilitating access to climate financing sources for their actions to materialize. This program also promotes collaboration between different areas of municipal government, promoting a holistic vision and addressing the complexity of local public policy.
International collaboration through the Global Covenant of Mayors and the support of the European Union to address climate challenges and empower technical teams have enabled pioneering municipal actions. In 2024, the Flagship Cities Program continues its mission to strengthen the capacities of Latin American cities to address the climate crisis and build a more sustainable future for the entire region.
For more information on cycles 1 and 2 of Flagship Cities: Cycle 1, Cycle 2. For more information on the program, you can access the initiative’s website or contact us via email at [email protected].
