President of the GCoM Latam Mayors Forum will represent Latin America on the global Board
Claudio Castro, Mayor of Renca, Chile, was appointed alongside leaders from Kochi, India, and Gdańsk, Poland, strengthening the voice of Latin American cities in GCoM’s global governance
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) announced the appointment of Claudio Castro, Mayor of Renca, Chile, and president of the GCoM Latam Mayors Forum, as a new member of the Board of the global alliance.
The appointment is part of the incorporation of three new local leaders to the GCoM Board: V.K. Minimol, Mayor of Kochi, India; Claudio Castro, Mayor of Renca, Chile; and Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk, Poland. The new members will represent South Asia, Latin America, and the European Union and Western Europe, respectively.
As president of the Forum, the Mayor of Renca has contributed to bringing together Latin American local leaders around climate action, technical cooperation, access to finance, and the implementation of solutions connected to the realities of their territories.
Climate leadership from Renca
At the head of Renca, Claudio Castro has advanced a climate agenda linked to mitigation, adaptation, sustainable energy, territorial justice, and social cohesion.
Among the milestones of his administration are the permanent closure of a thermoelectric power plant with more than six decades of operation, the planting of more than 85,000 trees in the Cerros de Renca Metropolitan Park, and the development of initiatives aimed at expanding access to green spaces, improving urban resilience, and strengthening the well-being of the population.
His administration has also promoted innovative institutional mechanisms, such as La Fábrica de Renca, a municipal corporation focused on local development and innovation that enables the municipality to build partnerships with public and private entities.
“In Renca, we have built a climate agenda that links mitigation, adaptation, and energy with territorial justice and social cohesion. In a region facing structural drought, extreme heat, and unequal access to green spaces, we have shown that climate action is also a policy of equity. As a member of the GCoM Board, I will work to expand access to climate finance for Latin American cities, so that nature-based solutions and the projects our cities already have can finally be financed,” said Castro.
Latin America in GCoM’s global governance
Claudio Castro’s arrival on the Board represents an opportunity to bring Latin America’s priorities to GCoM’s global agenda, especially on issues such as climate finance, technical assistance, and multilevel cooperation.
The appointment also strengthens the role of the GCoM Latam Mayors Forum as a space for representation and coordination among cities committed to climate action in the region.
In a diverse continent, with very different territories, capacities, and challenges, having a voice in global spaces is key to giving visibility to the progress made by local governments and opening pathways for more just, financeable, and inclusive climate solutions, with an impact on future generations.
About GCoM Latam
The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy in Latin America (GCoM Latam) is part of the largest global alliance of cities and local governments committed to climate action. In the region, GCoM supports municipalities in strengthening their mitigation, adaptation, and energy access commitments, promoting technical assistance, exchange of experiences, climate reporting, access to tools, and financing opportunities. Its work seeks to accelerate ambitious, measurable, and inclusive local solutions connected to the realities of Latin American territories and to global climate and energy goals.
