There are 46 Argentine municipalities that have already developed their Local Climate Action Plans. Argentina now has a National Strategy for Local Climate Action supported by the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, which was presented on June 24 during an event that featured the participation of representatives from local governments, the federal government, and the European Union.
The National Strategy for Local Climate Action in Argentina includes measures to support Argentine cities and municipalities that are members of the Global Covenant of Mayors in implementing concrete climate actions over the next two years, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Paris Agreement’s objectives to combat climate change and limit the increase in global average temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The presentation of Argentina’s strategy, moderated by climate change journalist Tais Gadea Lara, took place during the “Week of the GCoM in Action: Latin American Cities for Climate,” where, in addition to Argentina, the strategies of Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, and Peru were presented.
The European Union will provide more than five million euros by 2025 to support these actions in the Latin American region. The funding and support are managed through the Global Covenant of Mayors, the largest network of cities for climate action, which has more than 12,500 members worldwide, 551 of which are Latin American cities and municipalities with a combined population of 243 million people.
The Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Argentina, Amador Sánchez Rico, stated that, without a doubt, climate change represents a terrible challenge for cities around the world, especially those in Latin America. “Many cities are growing not only in size but also in population and in their vulnerability to the impacts of climate change,” he noted.
Simultaneously, urban expansion generates an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that up to 75% of the world’s local GHG emissions come from cities. Thus, it is important that the cities that emit the most greenhouse gases work with decarbonization plans and projects.
“However, we also see that cities are demonstrating a growing level of commitment, ambition, and are taking concrete actions for both adaptation and mitigation in the face of climate change. Local action allows citizens to participate actively, to feel part of the change, and to observe the direct effects of all their actions. We have a great example here in Argentina. Today we have 189 cities in Argentina committed to the GCoM,” he said.
Cecilia Nicolini, Secretary of Climate Change and Innovation for the Government of Argentina, said that more than individual plans are needed. Union among entities is required. “A document that, in some way, must condense the climate policies of each government area, which is not just work or planning by the National Climate Plan Secretariat. I feel that the entire government must move forward,” she warned.
“Written words have to be guidelines that can truly transcend and be carried out, especially that can permeate those who have the daily and direct work with the citizens, who are none other than the municipalities. These documents, in some way, have to condense the climate policies of each government area, not just what the National Climate Change Secretariat plans, but rather work must involve all government areas,” she added.
Maria Paula Viscardo, Coordinator of the Local Climate Action Plans Team of the Argentine Network of Municipalities Facing Climate Change (RAMCC), presented the vision and objectives for the next two years, taking into account relevant actors and initiatives in the country. “We aim to have more and more cities trained and also to cooperate with different national and regional organizations that need our experience in Climate Change,” she mentioned during her presentation.
The Strategic Lines of Action are: development of new greenhouse gas inventories and reporting; development of new local climate action plans and reporting of these plans; review of Local Climate Action Plans and Reporting; reporting of 3 finalized Adaptation Plans; technical training for officials; publication preparation; promoting access to funding, and an international event between localities in Latin America and Europe.
The city of Bell Ville
The Mayor of the city of Bell Ville, Carlos Edgardo Briner, highlighted that not all cities are the same and that in all cities there are underserved or more vulnerable sectors. In these sectors, which are often large, they are often close to aquifer neighborhoods. “In our city, we address three main areas: education, financing, and interaction between cities, deepening concepts of education in the territory to strengthen formal education in the field and highlighting the need for project financing, requesting the support of regional and national governments.”
“We have a great and generous help from RAMCC, which facilitates fundamental tools,” he added.
Various studies and analyses
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the Mayor of San Carlos de Bariloche, Marcela González Abdala, and the Undersecretary of Civil Protection of San Carlos de Bariloche, Adriana Patricia Díaz, presented the reality of the municipality.
Bariloche is one of the first 46 Argentine municipalities to complete its Local Climate Action Plan through its active participation in RAMCC. Last year, the city hosted the third National Assembly of this network, which allows for the exchange of experiences and technical assistance among different municipalities on this important issue.
The municipality conducted various studies. The main one was the vulnerability risk analysis for interface fires – fires that develop in contiguous urban-rural areas or where vegetation mixes with built structures such as homes and agricultural establishments – taking into account the number of inhabitants, the number of schools, the loss of directly vulnerable structures, the type of vegetation, the morphology, and the topography of the area. In this context, the most vulnerable neighborhoods were evaluated in terms of interface design.
“Considering all this, climate change, the number of vulnerabilities being generated by climate change, we understand that risk management is a transversal perspective across all areas, an integral approach to planning, and a vision of state sustainability, which in this way is only possible with quick access to basic information,” they complemented.
Jordan Harris, Coordinator of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in the Americas, concluded: “We see that cities, both in Argentina and throughout the region, are demonstrating a growing level of commitment, ambition, and concrete actions for adaptation and mitigation. We also see clearly that the work and needs of both local governments are strengthened and expanded by working across the network in collaborative steps.”
Harris closed the event by expressing, “With great joy, we conclude this Week of the GCoM in Action, which is truly a starting point, and I am sure that we will continue fighting with all of you to move forward and achieve progress together,” he said.
More than 500 municipalities united in Latin America
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy is a global alliance of more than 12,500 cities and local governments in over 140 countries, voluntarily committed to climate action, reducing their inevitable impacts, and facilitating access to sustainable and affordable energy for all. The GCoM was created in 2016 with the merger of the two largest networks of mayors and cities working on climate and energy issues: the Compact of Mayors and the Covenant of Mayors. Today, more than 500 municipalities and cities in Latin America are part of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. These are cities and municipalities taking bold local actions and working together in a network to share innovative solutions that enable mayors to do more, faster. The GCoM invites new municipalities and cities to join this initiative.
More information:
- Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy website
- More information about the Global Covenant of Mayors on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook & Instagram.
- Press contact: Ébida Santos, [email protected]
