On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, the regional LEDS LAC event was held under the title ".Long-term Climate Strategies in Latin America and the Caribbean: Progress, available tools and post-COP27 needs."organized with the support of GCAP and UNDP and with the participation of IDB, NREL, Euroclima+, UNEP, GIZ, FIIAPP; ECLAC, WWF, NDC Partnership and Plataforma 2050 Pathways in addition to the different partners of the LEDS LAC Platform.
The regional event aimed to make visible the progress and needs, as well as the different tools and resources available to build and strengthen the different processes of long-term climate strategies (LTS) in the region and finally, to make post-COP27 reflections to strengthen the LTS. It was divided into three sessions:
The first part of the session featured a presentation by Marcela Jaramillo, Senior Associate 2050 Pathways platform and co-chair of the LEDS LAC steering committee, giving a general overview of LTS and their situation worldwide, followed by a presentation by Rocio Aldana, Project Manager of Libelula, who shared some findings of the LEDSenLAC report. The second part of the session featured a panel with representatives from different stakeholder groups who shared their perspectives on LTS: Cirianco Urrutia, Director of Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Guatemala; Aida Lorenzo, Coordinator of the Mitigation Group of the Climate Change System of Guatemala; Antonio Pinheiro, Executive Secretary of Climate Change of the Municipality of Sao Paulo of Brazil; and Patricio Vladimir Diaz, Manager of Industrial Ecology and Environment of UNACEM of Ecuador.
Key messages:
- To date, 57 LTS have been registered under the UNFCCCThe LTSs cover 66 countries, i.e., they cover more than half of the world's population, more than 80% of global GDP and more than 60% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Latin America, Costa Rica, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Uruguay and Argentina have officially submitted their LTS to the convention.
- Most of the LTS presented have in common the goal of zero net emissions by 2050 and include adaptation and resilience goals. In addition, it should be noted that they have been developed through participatory processes.
- Among the experiences shared, we highlight the Climate Change Action Plan The Sao Paulo Plan, which includes both mitigation actions at the municipal level and adaptation actions; the UNACEM cement roadmap with the goal of carbon neutrality by 2050; and Guatemala's efforts in its participatory process of building its LTS, which has transcended from one government to another and initiates the roadmap for updating its NDC and building its financing strategy.
- Today, there is political will in different national governments, mayors and the private sector. There are significant advances that have taken a lot of effort and have demanded financial and human resources. The main achievements are the regulatory frameworks on climate change, planning instruments and roadmaps, which help establish priorities for climate action, aligned to the national framework.
- To have transparency and information systems are essential for follow-up, decision making and involving relevant stakeholders; however, resources (economic and technological) are required for their implementation and operation.
The second session aimed to share and make visible the different tools, resources and initiatives that are currently available to support the planning and implementation of LTS. It began with a presentation by Daniela Rough, NREL's International Projects Coordinator, who identified the gaps and opportunities for LTS in the region. Next, Astrid Juarez, member of the LEDS LAC Secretariat team, presented the results of the mapping of tools and resources carried out by the LEDS LAC platform (see box). As a central exercise of the session, the room was divided into parallel groups, each one in charge of different organizations or programs, where they presented and deepened their initiatives, resources and tools. What each group presented is detailed below. To conclude the session, Fernando Andrade, UNDP regional climate change specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean and co-chair of the LEDS LAC steering committee, shared some final thoughts.
As a preparatory exercise for the 2022 regional event, the LEDS LAC platform secretariat led a mapping process of tools and resources available to date for the development and implementation of LTS, which was shared with platform partners and supported by several allies. The result of the mapping includes 50 resources and tools from 22 institutions. These are resources that contribute to mitigation and adaptation (40% addresses both issues). They are different types of resources (e.g. methodologies, guidelines, reports). More than half of them are available in Spanish and most of them are dated from 2020 onwards. It should also be noted that they are aimed at various stakeholders to make LTS development processes more participatory.
Consult here the mapping of tools and resources for LTS design and implementation.
The resources and initiatives shared in the parallel groups are detailed below:
Group 1. LEDS LAC: Accompaniment and resources from communities of practice and working groups.
The topics and resources being addressed by the different communities of practice were shared:
- CdP Climate Policy Monitoring and Evaluation
- GT Transportation (CoP Electric Mobility and Sustainable Logistics)
- ArticuLAC (public-private articulation)
- CdP Bioenergy
- GT Resource efficiency
Group 2. NREL: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
NREL drives innovation in renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal), sustainable transportation (biofuels, electric vehicles, hydrogen), energy efficiency (buildings, advanced manufacturing, government energy management) and energy systems integration (analytics, high-performance computing, data and visualizations). NREL works with more than 80 countries around the world through the following initiatives:
- Global Climate Action Partnership (GCAP), of which LEDS LAC is a member.
- Net Zero World Initiative (initiative to support transitions to net-zero emissions, Argentina and Chile)
- RELAC (integrates 16 countries in LAC, through their energy ministries, and promotes a regional target of 70% of renewable energy).
- Clean Energy Solutions Center (provides free clean energy policy assistance through a global network of more than 50 experts)
- Clean Energy Ministerial (Mexico participates)
- Greening the Grid (Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Jamaica participate)
- G-PST (Global consortium of operators for the transformation of the energy power system, Peru and Colombia participate).
- Local2030 Islands Network (island-focused initiative that promotes peer-to-peer learning for solutions towards the SDGs)
Group 3. UNDP: Resources and methodologies for a fair and inclusive decarbonization.
It included the following resources:
- Investment and Financial Flow AnalysisCost analysis of NDC/LTS implementation by sector.
- Quality Assurance ChecklistFor Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies: Checklist for the LTS design and review stage, for governments, civil society and other stakeholders.
- Issue brief: Just Transition. Report summarizing the five key areas in which support will be provided to promote a just transition to a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy, building on the support provided by the Climate Promise.
- LTS 101UNDP internal document to codify and answer common questions on LTS.
- All in: How Just Transition Can Help Deliver the Paris AgreementA report that reveals why a just transition is critical to meeting the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, analyzes key global and regional trends, and explores what a just transition means for UNDP.
- Key elements for including gender equality and women's empowerment in climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)Guidance on key gender elements for countries updating their NDCs, designing new climate policies, or developing national or sectoral strategies to respond to climate impacts.
Group 4. IDB: Support for the design of climate strategies to mobilize ministries of finance and sectoral ministries.
Focus on:
- The challenge: building broad coalitions for decarbonization: Getting to net-zero emissions is an economic opportunity. In Latin America, decarbonization can generate 1% of additional growth and 15 million net jobs by 2030 (see chapter 9 of the report Opportunities for Stronger and Sustainable Postpandemic Growth).
- The BID way: stakeholder involvement and cost-benefit analysis: Start by asking key stakeholders what their objectives and goals are, what options they have, what uncertainties they face and what they already know. The methodology (SISEPUEDE) has been applied in three countries in the region, showing that it is possible to achieve net zero emissions:
- Costa Rica: It would bring US$41 billion in net benefits.
- ChileIt would bring net benefits equivalent to 5% of GDP.
- Peru: Would bring more than US$140 billion in net benefits by 2050.
- Policy roadmaps to attract international finance: Updating sectoral regulations is critical to leverage private investment and prevent climate spending (see report Achieving Net-Zero Prosperity: How Governments Can Unlock 15 Essential Transformations).
Group 5. Euroclima+: Technical assistance for LTS formulation.
The initiative of Regional Collaboration for transparency and compliance with NDCs and generation of Long-Term Climate Strategies which seeks to reduce common gaps in the planning and implementation of climate actions. Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Uruguay participate and focus on capacity building for LTS development; development of sectoral plans and targets for NDC compliance; and promotion of climate action in cities. Resources available are exchange programs, training, studies and tools.
Group 6. WWF: OPCC Climate Valuation Framework
The WWF Cities Challenge (OPCC) is a biannual competition that guides cities to report climate commitments in line with the Paris Agreement and inform cross-cutting and inclusive climate action plans. The most important gaps and barriers identified in these processes are access to information, capacities and resources available for reporting, granularity of recommendations, and feasibility.
More information: OPCC
Group 7. NDC Partnership: Thematic call on LT-LEDS and NDC alignment, upgrade and enhancement.
Information was provided on the thematic call open to date for member countries. The lines of support are:
- Preparatory support: It allows to understand the full scope of activities required to develop an LT-LEDS, to update and upgrade an NDC, and to align the two from the outset, as well as to identify next steps to inform Work Stream 2 submissions.
- Development, updating and increase of ambition: Support the submission of the first iteration of the LT-LEDS and the update/improvement of the NDCs in alignment with long-term strategies.
- Promote long-term transformation and action: Catalytic and paradigm-shifting policies, institutional frameworks and society-wide engagement that drive deep climate resilience building and a just transition to net zero emissions by 2050.
Final reflections of the session:
- The relevance of the space generated by the LEDS LAC platform in collaboration with its partners was highlighted, as a mechanism to share the different resources, tools and initiatives that are available to promote the design and implementation of LTS. It is an example of the collaborative work promoted by the platform.
- Regarding gaps and needs, the first barrier or challenge identified, recognized as recurrent and already known, is the following the need for financing to accompany the design and implementation processes. Second, despite the progress and work of institutions and partners, information is still precarious at the different levels of government and in the different sectors and stakeholders for building LTS, in terms of quality, accessibility and accuracy.
- Some "emerging" challenges:
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- Need to provide access to tools and resources to other actors that should be part of the LTS processes and have an important role to play, such as the private sector or academia.
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- The incorporation of social and economic aspects in the analysis and construction of the LTS is a sign of maturity and an indicator of how these climate efforts are being integrated into public policy and development instruments, which is in line with the ultimate goal of the LTS.
Taking into account the recent COP27, from November 6-18 in Sharm-el Sheik, Egypt, the third and last session of the event focused on reflecting on the outcomes of COP27 in relation to LTS-related processes and identifying concrete needs to accelerate progress and ambition in their implementation. There was a panel with representatives from central government (Jenny Mager, Head of Climate Change Division, Ministry of Environment of Chile), global platforms that support governments and the private sector (Ramiro Fernandez, Campaign Director, Climate Champions Team and Mauricio Luna, Policy Advisor, NAP Global Network), as well as representatives of civil society (Sandra Guzman, Director, GFLAC). Closing remarks were given by Sara Gonzales, International Affairs Advisor, Ministry of Environment of the Dominican Republic.
Key messages:
- The LTS are a tool that helps to comply with the Paris Agreement with a country vision and long-term ambition. It is noteworthy that the number of long-term climate strategies presented by countries is increasing, with good designs and good measures. However, progress in their implementation is not yet significant in numbers. It is now necessary that the discussion is focused on the implementation of the LTS to resolve the enabling conditions necessary to make them work, to promote them as an opportunity to look beyond the NDCs and link them to the country's development opportunities.
- Multisectoral coordination is required, even though sectoral isolation still exists in several countries in the region. Carrying out an early participatory process with the different stakeholders in NDCs and the development strategy makes it possible to manage the expectations of the different stakeholders and to mainstream the understanding of the long-term vision in the country. In addition, incorporating concepts such as just transition into the LTS facilitates understanding of the issue.
- The issue of funding is critical. So far, only planning has been financed and it is suggested that work on financing strategies to encourage private investment and other stakeholders such as the subnational level.. Climate finance must prioritize just transition, food security and energy transition.
- The subject of adaptation and its incorporation into the LTS is being supported by the participatory processes of the National Adaptation Plans. These participatory processes are fundamental, especially in the area of adaptation, as they take into account the local context and make it possible to include the views of different stakeholders, such as indigenous peoples, academia, and the private sector. It is necessary that the information can be disseminated from the bottom up. Article 7 of the Paris Agreement mentions the need to establish adaptation metrics. COP 27 outlined a series of meetings for next year until before COP28 for a common understanding of adaptation at different levels of government.
- Regarding the contribution of non-state actors, for the last four years the role of cities, companies and subnational governments has been growing, but there are still some who do not know about the LTS because they believe that it is only the work of national governments. The long-term approach is gaining interest, long-term goals have been defined for 2050, and the commitment of non-state actors is growing: eleven thousand institutions with intermediate goals, plans or actions and with reporting and verification mechanisms. The empowerment of the different sectors and stakeholders is essential for which spaces and processes of dialogue must be opened.
- On the needs and challenges identified at the COP:
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- The design of a new climate finance target is still unclear for several countries. Not everyone knows how much money they need to carry out LTS because few countries have estimated costs to guide mitigation and adaptation scenarios.
- The need for new financing structures for LAC taking into account the level of indebtedness of the countries and the limited private financing. Without incentives and enabling conditions it will not help the transition. It is recommended to review and propose innovative mechanisms such as debt swaps or green bonds.
- The following is also required transformation of the international and domestic financial system. The incorporation of central banks for climate action translates into more strategic measures.
- The subject of adaptation was put on the public agendaThe COP27 presidency, with the COP27 team, is very close to the loss and damage. The COP27 presidency, with the team of the championsannounced the Sharm-El Sheikh Adaptation Agenda with critical solutions and very useful to land in a concrete way in the LTS.
- Finally, the importance of generating a common understanding of what exists, what progress has been made to date and what will continue to be built was mentioned. It was suggested that the LEDS LAC platform should continue to promote LTS in its initiatives with its different allies during 2023.