The Global Covenant of Mayors in the Americas at OpenHouse 2024
February 28, 2024, Brussels (Belgium) – The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) in the Americas participated in the OpenHouse 2024 held in Brussels. Organized by the GCoM Global Secretariat, this event has served as a crucial meeting point for the diverse regions of the GCoM, seeking to share strategies, perspectives, and coordinate efforts in global climate action.
Representing the GCoM in the Americas were Hélinah Cardoso, Regional Director of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in the Americas; Elise Abades, Governance Expert of the GCoM in the Americas; and Belén Jiménez, Technical Advisor of the GCoM in the Americas; who presented the remarkable achievements and results obtained in the Americas.
The event concluded with a participatory roundtable where attendees had the opportunity to make suggestions and comments on the latest phase of the project for the Americas in 2024. This session reflected the collective commitment of all GCoM’s regions to continue advancing in the fight against climate change, highlighting the ongoing commitment of all of us in the GCoM to combat climate change.
General Achievements of the GCoM in the Americas:
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in the Americas has experienced significant growth and success in its commitment to climate action in recent years.
Throughout the Americas, 944 cities have actively committed, encompassing a combined population of 315 million inhabitants. This commitment has been supported by national and regional programs that provided support to more than 200 cities in 2023. Additionally, there was an 11% increase in the number of new cities joining the GCoM in the region, demonstrating a continuous momentum of American cities towards environmental sustainability.
Significant efforts have been made to improve the technical capacities of cities in planning and implementing climate actions, with particular emphasis on the development of Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs), as well as the financing of climate projects. Collaboration with more than 20 partner institutions throughout the American territory has further strengthened this work.
Achievements by Region:
North America:
In Canada, a Cohort with 15 municipalities is being successfully implemented alongside ICLEI Canada, focusing on supporting the implementation of ambitious climate projects and closing the gap between planning and implementation of these projects. In the United States, given the density of collaboration space in the region and recent incentives from the US government for local climate action through the “Inflation Reduction Act” (IRA), the GCoM in the United States, along with key partners, will support a group of cities in developing financeable and implementation-ready climate projects.
The Caribbean:
The GCoM has achieved a significant milestone by engaging Caribbean cities in regional events and providing technical support through the GAP Fund and the Joint Research Center of the European Commission. The active participation of Caribbean leaders in international events, such as COP28 in Dubai, highlights the region’s ongoing commitment to global climate action. In 2024, the GCoM, together with the JRC, will provide support for Caribbean cities to develop their Climate Action Plans.
Latin America:
Latin America has achieved significant milestones in promoting climate action, highlighting the successful implementation of eight National Strategies in key countries. These strategies have served as fundamental pillars to address regional climate challenges and have allowed committed cities to chart a clear path towards environmental sustainability. Additionally, the strengthening of the Forum of Mayors of Latin America has been an important step in improving local governance and including diverse perspectives in climate-related decision-making.
The emphasis on technical support, especially through key partners such as CDP and ICLEI, has been crucial to empower cities in Latin America and increase their capacity to report on their climate actions. This support has allowed for more effective implementation of climate mitigation and adaptation measures, as well as the identification of opportunities to improve the resilience of local communities to climate impacts.
Additionally, the region has shown a renewed commitment to protecting the Amazon, a vital region for the health of the planet. As highlighted by Hélinah Cardoso during the presentation of these results, “While the Amazon region has been on the climate action agenda before, discussions about the contributions of these cities to the fight against climate change have never been deepened. This gap has been filled with the establishment of the Amazon Cities Forum and ongoing training in these regions, specifically dedicated to addressing climate issues within urban areas in the Amazon.”
About the GCoM:
The GCoM in the Americas is the largest alliance of cities and local governments committed to climate action and the transition to a more sustainable future, supported in the Americas by the European Union.
Through active collaboration among cities, institutions, and communities, we are building a more sustainable and resilient future for all, where we will continue to work tirelessly to promote climate action, strengthen local governance, and protect our environment for present and future generations. Together, we are driving change towards a more sustainable world.
