La Paz joins the Mayors Forum of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy
The Mexican city, capital of Baja California Sur, joins GCoM’s main political leadership body in Latin America under the leadership of Mayor Milena Paola Quiroga Romero.
At a time when coastal cities face increasingly urgent climate challenges, La Paz, Mexico, has joined the Mayors Forum of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM). The city’s addition strengthens the Forum’s representation in Latin America and recognizes a local track record in sustainability, energy efficiency, environmental management and international cooperation.
La Paz, the capital of Baja California Sur, is distinguished by its natural and cultural wealth and is home to more than 300,000 residents. The municipal government has incorporated Environment and Sustainable Growth as a strategic pillar of its Municipal Development Plan, seeking to strengthen local climate action and position the city as a sustainability leader in Mexico and Latin America.
For Mayor Milena Paola Quiroga Romero, joining the Forum represents a strategic opportunity to expand cooperation among cities and share La Paz’s experience across the regional climate agenda.
“I am convinced that, from La Paz, we can contribute innovative ideas and replicable experiences to strengthen the Covenant in Mexico and Latin America, and to help build a more resilient and sustainable region,” she said.
A city committed to sustainability
La Paz is deeply connected to its natural surroundings. Its coastal identity, biodiversity and role as a state capital make sustainability a central priority for the municipality’s present and future.
In recent years, the municipal government has promoted initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint, improve the efficiency of public services and strengthen shared responsibility among residents.
Joining the GCoM Mayors Forum consolidates this path and creates new opportunities for exchanging experiences, developing technical capacities and cooperating with other local governments across the region.
Local leadership
Milena Paola Quiroga Romero is the mayor of La Paz and leads the city’s 18th Municipal Government. Her election was validated through the 2023–2024 local electoral process, in which she headed the winning slate for the La Paz Municipal Council.
As mayor, Quiroga has strengthened an agenda focused on sustainability, public-sector innovation and engagement with national and international networks.
La Paz has participated in international forums including the International Forum of Sustainable Learning Cities in Japan, the Latin American Learning Cities Forum in Colombia, the Regional Forum of Digital Municipalities in Mexico and the Argentine Network of Learning Cities.
This trajectory strengthens the city’s international profile and its ability to contribute practical lessons to Latin America’s local climate agenda.
A climate agenda delivering tangible results
La Paz’s climate agenda combines urban sustainability, energy efficiency, waste management and nature-based solutions.
Through the PrendeLED program, the municipality is expanding the use of LED street lighting, helping reduce its carbon footprint and advance energy efficiency across the city.
In integrated waste management, La Paz is implementing the Ruta Cero program to strengthen waste separation and recycling while promoting public awareness campaigns aimed at reducing the consumption of single-use plastics. The initiative brings together environmental education, shared civic responsibility and improvements to urban waste-management systems.
The city is also implementing the Línea Púrpura y Camellones Choyeros program, which promotes the use of treated wastewater to irrigate parks and gardens, as well as the incorporation of native vegetation into public-space landscaping.
The initiative strengthens climate adaptation, improves water efficiency and contributes to more resilient urban infrastructure.
The Forum’s current priorities
The Mayors Forum is GCoM’s political body in Latin America. Created in October 2022, its mission is to amplify the voice and visibility of cities leading climate action across the region, strengthen cooperation among local governments and increase their influence on the international climate agenda.
In 2026, the Forum is entering a new strategic phase aligned with GCoM’s 2026–2028 Global Strategic Plan. Its priorities include deepening support for climate action implementation in member municipalities, particularly in waste management, mobility and adaptation, while also increasing the visibility of the alliance’s tenth anniversary.
