Through the GIZ and AFD agencies, EUROCLIMA+ promotes partnerships in urban mobility between Germany, France and Mexico.

Mexico City, November 5, 2020 - Partnering and international alliances are key to addressing challenges jointly. To fulfil its commitment to generate human, economic and sustainable development, on November 5 the European Union held the event "Transformation and adaptation of sustainable urban mobility in Mexico. The European Union as a link between Germany, France and Mexico".

What is the role of cities and their mobility in facing climate change and what is their potential for adaptation and transformation in the light of this year's events? What experiences and best practices can be taken from Latin America and Europe? Through a series of panels and guided by these questions, the participants highlighted the importance of the interrelationship and existing dynamics of urban mobility and climate change in the face of an adverse context such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

The virtual event was attended by the European Union Delegation in Mexico, the Mexican Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the French Development Agency (AFD), the latter two being the implementing agencies of the Urban Mobility sector of the EUROCLIMA+ programme. Also participating were planning and mobility institutions from the Metropolitan Area of Guadalajara (Mexico), Puebla (Mexico), Bordeaux (France) and Stuttgart (Germany).

During the welcome, Jerome Poussielgue, Head of Cooperation, European Union Delegation in Mexico, highlighted the historic importance of the European Union and Mexico in global negotiations on climate change, such as the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and the signing of the Paris Agreement. Referring to the green economy as a fundamental tool, he highlighted the shared values regarding sustainable development and social cohesion, aimed at eradicating extreme poverty and social inequality.

"This event is an example for strengthening international cooperation partnerships. We must continue to work together to achieve global goals, so that we can leave a viable world for future and current generations. It is our responsibility to contribute through our institutions. The European Union will continue to cooperate with Mexico, supporting the definition of public policies and their implementation by financing projects that show the benefits of the green economy, such as those of EUROCLIMA+," said Jerome.

He also highlighted this event of the EUROCLIMA+ programme as an example for strengthening international cooperation on climate change and mobility issues. Also participating were Iris Jiménez, Deputy Director of International Cooperation at SEMARNAT; Marita Brömmelmeier, Resident Director GIZ Mexico; and Juliette Grundman, Regional Director Mexico - Cuba - Central America for AFD.

Challenges and experiences of the Urban Mobility sector

The Urban Mobility sector of EUROCLIMA+, through its implementing agencies GIZ and AFD, works on initiatives to promote a transition towards sustainable urban mobility in Latin America. The arrival of COVID-19 has brought challenges to this task, which were discussed by Michael Engelskirchen, Coordinator of the Urban Mobility Sector of EUROCLIMA+ from GIZ; and Patricia Calderón, Technical Coordinator of the Urban Mobility Sector of EUROCLIMA+ from AFD and Executive Director of Despacio.

"At EUROCLIMA+ we connect and stimulate a regional exchange on climate change together with our beneficiaries and partners. Urban Mobility is one of the priority sectors. To give relevance not only to our 19 projects, we share our experience by establishing a Community of Practice  with other actors and initiatives in the region. We established an entry point for urban mobility in Latin America, integrating other existing initiatives", said Michael Engelskirchen.

Local planning in cities through projects for Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans (SUMP) has been one of those that has required greater adaptation to the health crisis. "It is important to think about what challenges the transport sector has faced in this new normal and ways of moving about and even not moving," added Patricia Calderón.

"I believe that the main challenges we have had to rethink in order to design and implement the SUMPs are: to be able to offer public transport services that ensure lower occupation and biosafety, as well as to maintain their funding; to be able to guarantee public spaces that meet the needs of distancing and enable spaces to be made available to ensure an economic recovery; and to promote the use of non-motorised modes over motorised ones," she explained.

In this context, the Urban Mobility sector of EUROCLIMA+ showed these experiences through the projects of Mexico “Improvement of the Integral Plan for Sustainable Urban Mobility of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area” and “Pilot Project for the analysis of metropolitan movements”, implemented by GIZ, as well as “Pilot Project for the integration of cyclists into the Puebla Rapid Transit Bus System”, implemented by AFD. 

Best practices between Mexico, France and Germany

In addition to presenting the projects implemented by EUROCLIMA+, the event allowed for the exchange of experiences and best practices in sustainable urban mobility, through learning from the cities of Puebla and Guadalajara (Mexico), Bordeaux (France), and Stuttgart (Germany).

In the case of the Mexican projects, Mario Silva, General Director of the Institute for Development Planning and Management of the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area (IMEPLAN); and Eduardo Covian Carrizales, Secretary of Mobility, from the city of Puebla, participated. Etienne Lhomet, Director of the Tramway Mission and former Director of the Metropolitan Strategy of the City of Bordeaux, France, and Patrick Daude, from the Strategic Planning and Sustainable Mobility Unit in Stuttgart, Germany, also participated in a dialogue panel.

Prospects were also presented for strengthening cooperation between the three countries based on the lessons learned and how the transfer of best practices implemented in sustainable urban mobility could be facilitated.

For more information about the event EUROCLIMA+: Transformation and adaptation of sustainable urban mobility in Mexico | MobiliseYourCity.

About EUROCLIMA+

EUROCLIMA+ is a programme financed by the European Union to promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient development in 18 Latin American countries, particularly for the benefit of the most vulnerable populations. The Programme is implemented under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Development Agency (AFD), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), and UN Environment.

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