Governor Mauricio Vila Dosal began his participation in the United Nations Conference on Climate Change 2023 (COP28) with a call to the international community to join the fight against climate change and the safeguarding of biodiversity.
As president of the GCF Task Force, Vila Dosal participated as a speaker at the forum called “Advances in Financing Jurisdictional Approaches for Climate Action”, held in the Brazil pavilion, where he called on key actors and allies to join in supporting the new proposal for Financing Jurisdictional Approaches for climate action, which seeks to create financing focused on the needs of the various regions.
As part of his activities at this global summit, the Governor had a meeting with Rocío Sanz Cortés, executive vice president of the Coalition for Reducing Emissions through the Acceleration of Forest Financing (LEAF), an organization with a financing proposal is being worked on for the conservation of tropical and subtropical forests by the scale of the challenge of climate change.
Also, he held a meeting with the regional representative of UN-Habitat, Elkin Velázquez, to work together to promote the Law of Human Settlements, Territorial Planning, and Urban Development in Yucatán, thus promoting the fair, orderly, and sustainable growth of our state for the benefit of Yucatecan families.
Likewise, Vila Dosal met with the director of NICFI/Deputy Director General of the Department of Sustainability and Transition of the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, Andreas Dahl-Jørgensen, with whom he agreed to explore the possibility of the next stage of the Window B project, which has had excellent results in adaptation issues and the strengthening of sustainable use and production in the southern part of our state with communities and ejidos.
During his participation in the forum, the Governor thanked the invitation and acknowledged this event, which he called a historic conference, since this year, unlike others, he said, a unique platform is offered to highlight the vital role of subnational governments in the fight against climate change and the safeguarding of biodiversity.
“I am pleased to be here to speak as chair of the GCF Task Force about how to implement and complement the actions that Yucatán and the regions are already taking to reduce deforestation, create low-emission economies, and protect the rights of local communities. , as well as learning from the experiences of others,” said Vila Dosal.
For this reason, the Governor made an urgent call for action to continue the Manaus Action Plan, which was agreed upon at the 2022 meeting, since, he assured, it is pertinent due to the urgent need for financing that adjusts to our needs, that provides particular tools and avenues to support and achieve state and community actions aimed at conserving forests and building much-needed low-emission economies.
Likewise, he recalled that Yucatán is part of the Peninsula of the same name, which includes the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo, and is one of the richest regions in biodiversity and endemism in Mexico and explained that our forests and jungles represent 8.2% of the country’s forest cover, as well as 55% of the total extent of mangrove cover throughout the country.
“This is a great responsibility that we must assume and that forces us to put all our effort into conserving these ecosystems. And it is precise that, recognizing their value, in the Government of Yucatán we work on actions to integrate them into the planning, management, and governance instruments in both the urban and rural environment, to achieve the restoration and conservation of natural areas, in addition to generate activities that become sources of sustainable income for the communities that live around them,” he stressed.
To mention some strategies implemented by his Government, Vila Dosal explained that 9 state-run natural protected areas are managed, programs are promoted to care for species at risk, the promotion of sustainable productive activities, as well as a coordinated rural development policy. sustainable low emissions, for the conservation of forest ecosystems and the generation of environmental-social co-benefits aimed at the most vulnerable populations.
Elaborating, the Governor detailed that, through an international cooperation project with the GCF Task Force Innovation Fund, training opportunities are offered for productive improvement, entrepreneurship, and governance in the agricultural sector aimed at women and young people. for the identification of mechanisms and marketing strategies for sustainable products that favor local economic development, which he said could not have been achieved without the support and financing of the “Window A” and “Window B” calls.
“With these projects we achieved the consolidation of the Concurrent Funds program, providing financing to ejidos to encourage forest conservation while improving production systems with low environmental impact such as activities in Mayan milpa, beekeeping, family gardens, to contribute to food security, with a gender perspective,” he commented.
However, indicated Vila Dosal, it is necessary that these initiatives can be replicated, which is why it is important to have new Forest Economy Financing, since subnational governments are the front line in this battle for climate change and safeguarding. of ecosystems, biodiversity and it has been demonstrated with actions such as Windows A and B, that deforestation can be reduced if investment is made in strengthening institutional capacities in sustainable rural development in municipalities, and in strengthening adaptive capacities as well. as well as good practices for producers.
He also warned that there is an urgency to transform our economies towards a forestry approach, but to do so, he explained, strong partners and financial investment are required to take advantage of the opportunities that currently exist with carbon markets, which are beginning to establish the foundations of this new economy.
As a Member Government of the GCF Task Force and its president, the Governor extended an invitation to join this initiative for Funds for the New Forest Economy, where it will seek to channel flexible, transparent and specific financial support for the various strategies and regions. .
“We know that we have a long way to go, but with these actions, we reaffirm the commitment we have as subnational leaders to be agents of change and continue working in synergy in the construction of an increasingly greener and more sustainable planet,” he concluded.