Quito’s Climate Change Strategy: Lessons
and opportunities
Carolina ZambranoZambrano-Barragán
Environment Secretariat
Municipality of the Metropolitan District of Quito
Climate change:
a super-wicked problem
• It is unique (we don’t have experience with
something similar)
• A symptom of other problems
• It has no stopping rule
• It is time-sensitive
• Solutions not true or false, but “good” or “bad”
• There is uncertainty in the impacts as well as the
effectiveness of solutions
Source: Auld, Bernstein, Levin and Cashore, 2007
Policy responses: balance between
adaptation and mitigation
• Relation to LOCAL reality and priorities
• Technological, financial and political opportunities
for change
• Need for an integrated and holistic view
Impacts In Quito’s Metropolitan District
Infrastructure
Ecosystems and
biodiversity
Energy
Glacier retreat/
loss of paramos
Drinking water
provision
Temperature
rise (+1.2°C)
Precipitation
decrease (-8%)
Health
Productive
systems
More frequent
and intense
extreme weather
events
Social Vulnerability and Natural Disasters
FLOODS
+
Source: MDQ
Vulnerability, MDMQ –
IRD- UASB
LANDSLIDES
+
POVERTY
=
VULNERABILITY
National Framework
2008 Constitution: Rights of nature, plurinationality,
collective rights
CC Adaptation and Mitigation declared a State policy
(Executive Decree 1815)
National Climate Change Strategy and its National
Adaptation Program
QUITO’S ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
P3. To face climate change through planned
management
Strategies
Lead and plan adaptation processes to reduce
social, environmental and economic vulnerability
Promote social and ecosystem resilience
Implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions
Implement an early warning and integrated risk
management system
Strategic Areas QCCS
1. Vulnerability reduction and planned adaptation
2. Clean technologies and good environmental
practices
3. Communication, Education and Citizen
Participation
4. Institutional strengthening and capacity-building
Intrainstitutional Articulation: A basis for Quito’s
Climate Change Strategy (QCCS)
Technology and
finance
Joint
implementation
National and
International
Leadership
Effective
preparation to
face CC in the
MDQ
Environment
Secretariat
Vulnerability and
Adaptation
Social participation
Measures and Plans
Finance and technology
Knowledge and
information
generation and
management
Climate events and social
vulnerability
Most vulnerable areas
and stakeholders
• Relocation and sustainable
land use
• Slope protection and
improved sewer system
• Early warning system and
climate monitoring
• Capacity-building,
awareness raising and
response organization
Forest Fires
- Information generation
management
and
- Control
and
prevention
measures (Fire Plan)
- Priority zones for reforestation
and conservation
Reforestation and
Ecosystem Restoration
Plan
- Coordination and citizen
involvement
- Protection of risk zones
(fire-prone,
landslides,
water sources)
Ecosystems and
biodiversity
• Protected Area Subsystem
• Ecological corridors and
green space
• Fire control and prevention
• Land use control
• REDD+ as a potential
adaptation mechanism
WATER
-Integrated Watershed Management
- Drinking water efficient use campaigns
- Use and loss reduction
- Network improvement
- Adaptation of irrigation systems
-Drought resistent varieties
-Incorporation in hydroelectric power management
Translation of science into policy
• Quito’s Panel on Climate Change
• Joint research agenda
• Youth Program: Capacity-building, political agenda
and implementation of actions
• Public campaigns
Challenges
• Sustained, predictable finance at scale required
– Recognition of historical responsibility
– Connection with national government
– National Registry for public adaptation and mitigation
actions
– Local sources for environmental funding
• Relation ecosystems – ecosystem services - city
Ecological Footprint vs. biocapacity
Lessons learned:
local CC management initiatives
• Manual for Local Climate Change Management: contribution
to other Ecuadorian municipalities (w/ UN Habitat)
• Local Environmental Authorities’ Network: climate change
focus
– Standardize tools and methodologies (vulnerability analyses,
GHG inventories, CC Strategies, etc.)
– Experience-sharing platform
– Joint adaptation activities
– Funding and cooperation
– Contribution to national position at UNFCCC negotiations
Lessons learned:
the basis
• Intra and interinstitutional articulation; cross-cutting approach
• Importance of land use and urban planning
• Citizen participation and social organization systems
• Decision-makers with a holistic vision
• Translation of science into policy
• Importance of development, transfer and adaptability of
technologies and knowledge for adaptation
• Rescue and valorization of traditional knowledge and practices
• Maximization of mitigation strategies that contribute to
adaptation and building resilience (e.g. REDD+)
• Local and national capacity development and strengthening
Regional and global cooperation
• North-South, South-South and triangular
cooperation
• Equitable access to knowledge-sharing and
capacity-building
• Equitable access to funding and technology:
recognition of vulnerability of human groups
• Avoid duplicating efforts: map of stakeholders,
initiatives and methodologies
• Follow local priorities
• GO BEYOND ASSESSMENTS
• Consider gradual impacts and not only disaster
management
Thank you!!
[email protected]