Cartagena de Indias formalizes its membership in the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) Forum in Latin America
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, has formalized its membership in the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) Forum in Latin America. With this incorporation, which took place in October 2025, the city’s strong commitment to the fight against climate change is recognized, prioritizing adaptation and coastal resilience.
Under the leadership of Mayor Dumek Turbay Paz, Cartagena has placed environmental sustainability at the heart of its administration, coordinating green infrastructure megaprojects with ecological restoration. There are several initiatives that consolidate this commitment: the emblematic Gran Malecón del Mar project, which incorporates green infrastructure and coastal protection solutions to mitigate erosion and preserve the coastline, along with the promotion of sustainable mobility through bike lanes and large green areas. At the same time, water and ecosystem recovery is focused on the Juan Angola Canal and the Espíritu del Manglar Park.
In terms of mobility, intermodal water transport planning emerges as a sustainable and innovative alternative that seeks to drastically reduce pollutant emissions and traffic congestion, while improving connectivity and equity in service for communities in the bay and island areas. In addition, the environmental ecotourism routes that have been promoted seek to ensure a harmonious relationship between the community, the natural environment, and tourist activities.
For Mayor Dumek Turbay Paz, this alliance is essential to raise awareness of sustainable and environmental projects in the region:
“For Cartagena, a city that lives and breathes with the sea, and which is now committed to developing itself facing the water and no longer turning its back on it, joining the Global Covenant of Mayors Forum in Latin America is a strategic step. It shows that we are taking on the historic responsibility of protecting our environment and our people. We are building a more sustainable, cleaner, and fairer city, where resilience is our main focus. Collaborating with the GCoM will allow us to amplify our voice and learn from global experiences to ensure a prosperous future for all citizens of Cartagena.”
Cartagena de Indias’ participation in the Mayors Forum reinforces the visibility of the Colombian Caribbean’s climate commitments and contributes to strengthening the representation of Latin American cities in crucial scenarios of the climate agenda, such as the upcoming COP30 in Belém, Brazil.
About the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM)
The GCoM supports cities and local governments by mobilizing and supporting ambitious, measurable, and planned climate and energy actions in their communities, in collaboration with city/region networks, national governments, and other partners to achieve our vision. It is currently led by the UN Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, Michael R. Bloomberg, and the Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera. The coalition includes cities on six continents and in 147 countries, representing more than one billion people, which is equivalent to more than 13% of the world’s population.
For more information about GCoM, visit our site or follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
