The International Urban Cooperation Programme in Latin America and the Caribbean (IUC-LAC) organised two workshops this summer for National Coordinators of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM), covering methodologies, action plans, nationally determined contributions and emblematic cities. The trainings were held in the framework of EU activities in the region, including efforts to help Latin American local governments develop more sustainably and fight against climate change. The first workshop took place in Lima (Peru), from 20 – 23 August, and the second in San José (Costa Rica), between 28 and 31 August.

Attendees were given an overview of the objectives of the Global Covenant of Mayors, as well as practical advice, including methodologies to produce Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) aligned with the Nationally Determined Contributions (known as NDCs - the commitment of countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the framework of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change). Building the capacity of cities as a key partner in fulfilling these NDC commitments is a fundamental step.

First Workshop

The first workshop brought together 26 municipalities and the National Coordinators of Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Ecuador. The focus was on methodologies to produce a SECAP and aligning these plans with their country’s NDC. Cities that have implemented impressive actions in the fight against climate change were highlighted during the workshop. Representatives of the Municipalities of Trujillo and San Isidro (Peru), Santiago and Providencia (Chile) and of Puerto Viejo and Cuenca (Ecuador) presented the experiences of their municipalities, the progress made and their primary local challenges.

Second Workshop

With the participation of 52 representatives from municipalities and National Coordinators from Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico and Chile, the workshop looked at the pillars of the Global Covenant of Mayors initiative: adaptation; mitigation; and safe, sustainable and affordable access to energy; as well as processes and progress reporting platforms.

During the event, the Municipalities of Belén, La Unión, Golfito and Desamparados joined the Global Covenant, committing themselves to the fight against climate change.

In addition to training, impressive government strategies from municipalities in Costa Rica, Mexico, Colombia and Chile were presented and discussed among the participants of the workshop, giving participants the chance to hear local experiences from different regions of the continent.

Elberth Barrantes, Mayor of Golfito, said: "For our country, Costa Rica, and for a rural canton like ours, Golfito, it is important to have taken part in this event to acquire all the information, all the expert knowledge and the experiences of other cities and municipalities to effectively take action."

Contributions

Each workshop had a training module on preparing a risk and vulnerability analysis and a module on the establishment of emission reduction and inventory objectives, led by the Joint Research Center (JRC). The European Commission’s JRC is the independent body that provides scientific and technical support to the methodological development, implementation and monitoring of the Global Covenant of Mayors. Another module within the the workshops was facilitated by EUROCLIMA+ on the subject of the territorial localisation of NDCs.

Silvia Rivas Calvete, JRC expert in charge of the methodological adaptation of the Global Covenant, emphasised that action at the local level is what will bring about a meaningful change, saying; "Cities are part of the problem, so they have to be part of the solution. It is an opportunity to make the change."