UNEP in Latin America and
the Caribbean
NEWSLETTER
© Montserrat Valeiras
JULY-AUGUST 2014
Dialogue on the sustainability of cities
UNEP Activities in the region
• International dialogue on the sustainability of our urban
“ecosystems” ........................................................................................................................................p.2
• UNEP and Bogota mayor’s office create a framework for
cooperation .........................................................................................................................................p.2
• Central American Forum of Universities and the Environment ....p.3
• Regional training workshop on eco-innovation .........................................p.3
• Microfinance in climate change adaptation ...................................................p.4
• CEUS, a tool to factor the climate into financial-risk analysis ..........p.4
• Renewable energy and climate change mitigation ................................p.4
• Dialogue on public climate change policies in the Argentine
province of Mendoza .................................................................................................................p.5
p.2
• The region gets ready for the COP on migratory species ..................p.5
• Brazil boosts sustainability with the 2014 World Cup .......................p.6
• UNEP and Brazil team up to monitor water quality...............................p.6
• Inquiry on the transition to a sustainable financial system reaches
Brazil ........................................................................................................................................................p.6
• Accelerating investment in renewable energy in Mexico ..............p.7
• Lessons learned from the collaboration of the GEF and UNEP in
Mexico .....................................................................................................................................................p.7
• Sustainable development and creation of green and decent jobs
in Mexico .............................................................................................................................................p.7
• Progress of the ECCO-Basins report .....................................................................p.7
• Training for Haitian farmers to link agriculture to biodiversity ....p.5
On the calendar
p.8
UNEP IN LAC
ACTIVITIES IN THE REGIÓN
NEWSLETTER
JULY-AUGUST 2014
© Alejandro Laguna
Page 2
International dialogue on the
sustainability of our urban “ecosystems”
“Cities are like ecosystems or organisms. Cities are much more
than infrastructure, dwellings and facilities; ‘sustainable city’
must cover social, environmental and cultural aspects in an
integral manner”. This is one conclusion of the final document
of the High Level Dialogue on Sustainable Cities, Transport
and Tourism, held from 10 to 12 August in Bogota, Colombia,
as part of the second anniversary of the Rio+20 Conference.
Close to 350 government representatives, international
organisations, NGOs, companies, universities and communities
took part in the event, organised by the Bogota mayor’s office,
the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN
Habitat), UNEP, and the Global Forum on Human Settlements
(GFHS).
In the opening address, the director and regional
representative of UNEP, Margarita Astrálaga, emphasised that
UNEP is supporting cities and networks of cities in activities
that include sustainable construction, energy efficiency,
climate change adaptation, integrated waste management,
sustainable mobility and air pollution reduction. Ms. Astrálaga
also gave a presentation on waste management in Latin
America and the Caribbean.
In addition, Arab Hoballah, head of the Sustainable
Consumption and Production Branch (SCP) of UNEP, presented
the Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities (GI-REC).This
initiative aims to integrate the concepts and methodologies
of SCP and resource efficiency into cities’ policies and plans
and to generate a sustainable change in local governments,
companies and citizens. Mr. Hoballah noted that “cities occupy
only 3% of the planet’s land surface, but they produce 50%
of the trash and are responsible for between 60% and 80% of
global greenhouse gas emissions, thus consuming 75% of the
planet’s natural resources.”
© Luisa Carrascal
UNEP and Bogota mayor’s
office create a framework
for cooperation
During her visit to Bogota, the director and regional
representative of UNEP took the opportunity to sign with
the mayor of the Colombian capital, Gustavo Petro Urrego,
a memorandum of understanding to strengthen actions
contributing to the city’s environmental sustainability
and resilience, through, inter alia, the conservation
of strategic ecosystems that perform environmental
services for the city, energy efficiency, risk management
and water resources.
UNEP IN LAC
ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION
NEWSLETTER
JULY-AUGUST 2014
Page 3
© Morguefile
Central American Forum of Universities and the
Environment
Pursuant to decisions on environmental education adopted by the Forum
of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, and in
the framework of the Environmental Training Network of the region, the
First Central American Forum of Universities and the Environment was
held on 21 and 22 August at the School of Civil Engineering, Víctor Levi
Sasso Campus, of the Technological University of Panama (UTP).
UNEP provided technical material and organised the event with the
support of the UTP, the Ibero-American Network of Universities for
Sustainability and the Environment (ARIUSA), the Guatemala National
Environmental Training and Research Network (REFDIA) and the Costa
Rican Network of Sustainable Educational Institutions (REDIES).
The most relevant outcomes of the forum
include the proposal to establish a Panamanian
Network of Universities for the Environment
and Sustainability, with an initial membership
of some ten universities. In addition, a
statement of commitments to encourage
the formulation of an environmental policy
by each university and to design common
indicators on environmental sustainability for
the universities of the region was adopted.
Further information
Regional training workshop on eco-innovation
The Regional Training Workshop on EcoInnovation Methodologies and Tools
for Experts in Latin America and the
Caribbean was held in Panama City from
26 to 29 August.
The workshop, developed as part of
the UNEP’s eco-innovation project, was
attended by experts in eco-efficiency
and from cleaner production centres,
universities, innovation centres, and
other intermediaries that are helping the
business sector adopt more sustainable
consumption and production practices.
During the sessions, the work focused
on practical cases with the methodology
set out in the UNEP Eco-Innovation
© Haris Hondo
Eco-innovation refers to developing and
applying a business model that allows a
company to incorporate sustainability
throughout its operations, based on the
life-cycle approach and in cooperation
with partners all along the value chain.
Manual for Small and Medium Enterprises and its three supplementary manuals for
the agrifood, metal manufacturing and chemical processing sectors. In addition,
an analysis was conducted of the political and technological conditions required to
promote eco-innovation.
UNEP IN LAC
ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION
NEWSLETTER
JULY-AUGUST 2014
Page 4
Microfinance in climate change adaptation
On 28 and 29 August, a regional workshop named Alternative sources of financing for climate change adaptation was held in Lima,
Peru, as part of the support given by UNEP to the Peruvian government in the preparation activities for the 20th session of the
Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP20) . The event was organised
with support from Peru’s Ministry of the Environment and the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), as part of the Microfinance for
ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change (MEbA) project , which receives German-government funding.
The workshop brought together government representatives of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, of multilateral
cooperation agencies, as well as of private banks and microfinance institutions from various countries of the region. Innovative
financial mechanisms that encourage adaption to climate change were presented, and a constructive dialogue took place
among key stakeholders on consolidating a platform of joint work that will showcase the potential for alliances with the private
sector to serve as a catalyst for adaptation to climate change.
CEUS, a tool to factor the climate into financial-risk
analysis
Climate has become one more, and perhaps the most important, factor for credit analysis in financial institutions’ loan portfolios,
particularly in rural areas. This is especially significant in the case of microfinance companies, which serve the population
segment that has the lowest income and which receives little assistance with adapting to climate change.
The MEbA project has developed a system specialized in analysing data, allowing climate risk to be factored in for better lending
decisions. The MEbA team worked to gather and systematize data on agricultural output in specific climatic zones (according
to crop and variety), combining them with climate projections as well as with specialized forecasts on food prices. This is an
important milestone for microfinance. The Ceus software is currently in the pilot stage of implementation at some branches
of the microfinance institutions associated with the MEbA project: Bancamía, Crezcamos and Contactar in Colombia, and
Solidaridad and Fondesurco in Peru.
Renewable energy and
climate change mitigation
From 22 to 24 July, in Montevideo, Uruguay, a workshop
named Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs)
in the renewable energy sector was held. The purpose was to
strengthen the identification, design and implementation
of NAMAs, particularly in the wind and photovoltaic solar
sectors.
The Spanish Office on Climate Change (OECC) and the
training centre of the Spanish Agency for International
Development Cooperation (AECID) organised the workshop
in collaboration with the International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA); UNEP, through the Regional Gateway for
Technology Transfer and Climate Change Action in Latin
America and the Caribbean (REGATTA) project; and other
international, regional and national centres and agencies.
The workshop was intended for representatives of energy
ministries, commissions and departments responsible for
decision-making regarding designing and implementing
NAMAs in the renewable energy sector.
© Alejandro Laguna
UNEP IN LAC
ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION
NEWSLETTER
JULY-AUGUST 2014
Page 5
Dialogue on public
climate change
policies in the
Argentine province
of Mendoza
The Argentine city of Mendoza held a Gathering
on climate change, from 30 to 31 July, to integrate
the topic of climate change into the public
agenda at the national level, with the involvement
of different sectors of society. More than 400
persons, including well-known international
experts, took part in the event, organised by
the Ministry of Lands, Environment and Natural
Resources of Mendoza province. UNEP director
and regional representative Margarita Astrálaga
delivered the opening address and gave several
interviews to the media.
Training for Haitian farmers to
link agriculture to biodiversity
In July, farmers in Nan Kafe, on
the Haitian island of Gonâve,
were given two hands-on training
sessions on erosion control and
mountain farming, particularly as
related to coffee cultivation, and
on the importance of biodiversity
and its conservation. The training
was given by the Ministry of the
Environment and the Tri-National
Office of the Project for the
Demarcation and Establishment
of the Caribbean Biological
Corridor (UNEP/EU CBC project),
implemented by UNEP with
European Union funds.
The participants expressed an
interest in receiving more training
on these topics in order to better
understand the value of ecosystem
services and to share this
information with the community.
Growing coffee allows them to
sustainably generate more income
for the community.
More information:
http://www.cbcpnuma.org/
© CBC
The topics addressed by the thematic and work
panels included, most notably, the challenges
of desertification, funding, agriculture, water
management, industry and energy, land-use
management, legislation, the social dimension
and education within the framework of climate
change mitigation and adaptation.
The region gets ready for the COP on migratory species
© Mark Anderson
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) Secretariat, in cooperation with the Government
of Chile, hosted a Regional Preparatory and Negotiations Workshop on 11-13 August in Santiago, Chile. During the workshop,
the important issues of the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP11), to be held on 4-9 November this year in
Quito, Ecuador, were introduced to the National Focal Points (NFPs) from Latin America. The training helped to build capacity by
equipping participants with the necessary negotiation techniques and skills to deploy at the upcoming COP as well as at future
environmental meetings. Other pre-COP trainings are being held in Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
UNEP IN LAC
ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION
NEWSLETTER
JULY-AUGUST 2014
Page 6
Brazil boosts sustainability with the 2014 World Cup
© Marilia Cabral
Brazil delivered a sustainable 2014 FIFA World Cup, with
the certification and sustainable management of arenas,
compensation and mitigation of emissions and the
promotion of sustainable consumption and production
patterns. UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive
Director Achim Steiner joined the Brazilian Minister of
Environment, Izabella Teixeira, at a press conference in Rio
de Janeiro to evaluate the green initiatives of the World Cup,
including UNEP’s Green Passport, a campaign promoting
sustainable tourism and lifestyles.
“UNEP has been connecting sports and environment for
more than 20 years, and the Green Passport has done its
part. The campaign offered qualified information to help
consumers and producers to make a sustainable choice. But
the World Cup was just a start. Brazil can become a model for
new patterns in sustainable consumption and production,” said Mr. Steiner.
Around 200 entrepreneurs participated in the Sustainable Journeys in five host-cities. More than 2,000 users visited the
campaign’s website each day, and the Facebook page gathers more than 80,000 fans. UNEP and the campaign partners also
distributed 300,000 stickers inviting football fans to choose sustainable practices.
UNEP and Brazil team up to Inquiry on the
monitor water quality
transition to a
ANA, the Brazilian National Water developing countries are key steps
sustainable financial
Agency, will host a regional center to ensure the sustainable use of
of the UNEP Global Environment water,” said UN Under-Secretarysystem reaches Brazil
Monitoring System for Water General and UNEP Executive
© Morguefile
(GEMS-Water), acting as a focal
point of the programme in Brazil.
This was defined in a cooperation
agreement signed recently.
“The efficient management of
water resources and regional
collaboration initiatives between
Director Achim Steiner. ANA will
collect data and share information
on water quality according to UNEP
standards, and will also promote
capacity-building initiatives in Latin
America and the Caribbean and
in the Community of PortugueseSpeaking Countries (CPLP).
During the World Economic Forum in Davos,
UNEP launched an Inquiry to list policy options
to guide the global financial system in the
transition to a green economy. It is mapping
best practices around the world and drawing
together principles and frameworks.
As part of this process, the co-director of the
Inquiry, Nick Robins, visited São Paulo, Rio de
Janeiro and Brasilia, from 11 to 15 August. He
collected contributions for the Inquiry from
public institutions and private companies,
including the Brazilian government. He visited
the São Paulo Stock Exchange, the National
Bank of Economic and Social Development,
private banks and other institutions.
The visit was organised by UNEP and the
Brazilian Federation of Banks (Febraban), and
the agenda included an open seminar held in
São Paulo, on 13 August.
UNEP IN LAC
ACTIVITIES IN THE REGION
NEWSLETTER
JULY-AUGUST 2014
Page 7
Accelerating investment in renewable
energy in Mexico
© Morguefile
On 22 July, UNEP sponsored a dialogue on the launch of the Accelerating investment
in Renewable Energy in Mexico project. In general, the project aims to promote
private-sector participation in financing renewable-energy projects in Mexico, by
designing and structuring appropriate financial mechanisms.
The event was presided by the project’s executive committee, made up of the
Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of the Treasury and Public Credit, UNEP, the
British Embassy, the Latin America Regional Climate Change Initiative (LARCI), the
Association of Mexican Banks (ABM) and the Institute for Electricity Research (IIE). In
attendance were the principal counterparts of the project, including senior officials
of Mexican and international development banks.
UNEP made a work visit to the State of Oaxaca, as part of the Project to retrieve
lessons learned and good practices of GEF/UNEP projects in Mexico. The idea is to
gather good practices of the Mixteca Project , which aims to propose management
and production strategies to allow decision makers of this region of Oaxaca to
improve the way of life and living standards of communities through ecosystem
services.
© OIT
Sustainable development and
creation of green and decent
jobs in Mexico
In the first week of August, UNEP
participated in the Strategies for
sustainable development and the
creation of green and decent jobs
in Mexico workshop, organised
by the International Labour
Organisation. Participating on a
panel on Green economy and green
jobs, the UNEP representative
in Mexico, Dolores Barrientos,
stressed the importance of the
green economy for the country’s sustainable development. In addition,
an analysis was made of the sectors of the domestic economy that have
comparative advantages in the transition towards a green economy,
along with the manner in which that transition can favour the creation of
green jobs, such as the forest sector (with preliminary results of the Green
economy of Mexico study), small-scale farming, recycling and renewable
energy, among other topics.
Progress of the
ECCO-Basins report
On 30 June, UNEP coordinated a seminar
with members of the working groups of the
ECCO-Basins project in the municipalities of
San José del Rincón, Valle de Bravo, Amanalco
and Villa Victoria, in the State of Mexico.
The purpose of the meeting was to present
the progress of the Urban Environment and
Climate Change Outlook (ECCO) study to
representatives of the working groups and
to identify possible information gaps. The
seminar was also attended by officials of the
State of Mexico Secretariat of the Environment
of the Government responsible for the study,
and by Dr. Ruth González, a researcher at the
Autonomous University of the State of Mexico
(UAEM) and the lead academic for the report.
© Dorothee Georg
Lessons learned from the
collaboration of the GEF
and UNEP in Mexico
On THe
calendar
September
Sub-Regional Workshop for South American Countries in
support of the ratification and early implementation of
the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Venue: Brasilia,
Brazil. Date: 2-4 September 2014.
October
Latin American Carbon Forum, co-organised by UNEP.
Venue: Bogota, Colombia. Date: 3-5 September 2014.
http://www.latincarbon.com
Workshop for climate change negotiators in preparation
for COP20 organised jointly with the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC).
Venue: Santiago, Chile. Date: 8-10 October 2014.
Inception workshop and first training on sustainable
public procurement in Ecuador. Venue: Quito, Ecuador.
Date: 8-9 September 2014.
Launching of the Eco-efficiency in Tourism Business
guide. Venue: São Paulo, Brasil. Date: 9 September 2014.
Subregional Workshop on Adaptation Projects and
Measures in Mesoamerica and the Caribbean, exploring
Financing Opportunities. Venue: Mexico City, Mexico.
Date: 9-10 September 2014.
Meeting of the focal points of the Environmental
Training Network for Latin America and the Caribbean,
in the framework of the VII Iberoamerican Congress of
Environmental Education. Venue: Lima, Peru. Date: 9
September 2014.
Inception workshop and first training on sustainable
public procurement in Peru. Venue: Lima, Peru. Date: 1112 September 2014.
Meeting of focal points and partners to Euroclima. Venue:
Lima, Peru. Date: 1-3 October 2014.
Pre-COP20 Journalist Workshop. Venue: Lima, Peru. Date:
16-17 October 2014.
Seventh International Congress on Environment. Centre
for Sustainable Development Studies. Venue: Bogota,
Colombia. Date: 20-21 October 2014.
Regional workshop on climate change legislation. Venue:
Panama city, Panama. Date: 21-23 October 2014.
Workshop on Ecosystem-based Adaptation and
Traditional Knowledge. Venue: Lima, Peru. Date: 28-29
October 2014.
V Technical and Ministerial Meeting of the Caribbean
Biological Corridor. Venue: Santo Domingo, Dominican
Republic. Date: 28-30 October 2014.
Calendar of events:
http://www.pnuma.org/eventos.php
VII Iberoamerican Congress of Environmental Education
(organised by the Ministry of Environment and the
Ministry of Education of Peru, with support from UNEP).
Venue: Lima, Peru. Date: 11-14 September 2014.
Emissions Modeling Workshop of the Short Lived Climate
Pollutants of the Regional Assessment for Latin American
and the Caribbean. Venue: Natal, Brazil. Date: 18-19
September 2014.
Launching of the publication Sustainable Procurement
and Big Events. Venue: São Paulo. Date: 23 September
2014.
Workshop “Establishing Priorities for the Knowledge
Adaptation Initiative Pilot of the Andean Subregion”.
Venue: Bogota, Colombia. Date: 24-26 September 2014.
© Morguefile
Meeting of the focal points of the Regional IberoAmerican Network of Climate Change Offices (RIOCC).
Venue: Lima, Peru. Date: 30 September to 1 October
2014.
Published by UNEP
Regional Office for Latin America and the
Caribbean
Design: Idoia Aurrekoetxea
Contact: [email protected]
http://www.pnuma.org/