Panama, 25 January 2022. The Ministry of Environment (MiAMBIENTE) and the European Union today launched the Country Action Plan in the framework of the EUROCLIMA+ programme. 

This plan, with an investment of close to 2.0 million US dollars, will reinforce the Panamanian climate strategy and is in addition to the projects that the European Union already has underway in the country, including the formulation of the preliminary draft of the Framework Law on Climate Change. 

This initiative began in March 2021, when the Panamanian government, through the Minister of Environment, Milcíades Concepción, requested to initiate the strategic "Country Dialogue" process with the European Union. 

The Country Dialogue is a process based on a flexible and demand-driven approach, considering the involvement and commitment of the various stakeholders, and is underpinned by the strategic vision of the EUROCLIMA+ programme, built together with the partner countries, which provides a framework for action for compliance with the Paris Agreement.

This process in Panama started with the presentation of national priorities that are aligned with the National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) and the First Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) presented by Panama.

The Country Action Plan (2022-2024) will cover the following actions:

• Develop the Low Carbon Economic and Social Development Strategy for the Republic of Panama to 2050.
• Establish the Regulatory Framework for the distribution of blue carbon in the context of the National Carbon Market.
• Develop the National Climate Empowerment Strategy with a gender focus, towards the reduction of greenhouse gases and resilience to the effects of climate change.
• Update and expand the Climate Transparency Platform to track progress on the country's climate commitments.
• Develop integrated actions for the design and implementation of Nature-based Solutions in the framework of the commitments set out in the NDC1 of Panama.
• Foster sustainable and resilient local economies in strategic sectors of Panama's NDC1, facilitating innovations in the urban/rural environment. Increase capacities for climate risk reduction and resilience in human settlements.
• Promote the conservation, sustainable use and restoration of marine ecosystems in the Republic of Panama for the valorisation of blue carbon.
• Establish the Programme -- Reduce Your Footprint-Products at the national level.
• Promote the introduction and transfer of green technologies to address climate change in the transport sector of Panama.

During the launch Ligia Castro, National Director of Climate Change on behalf of the Ministry of Environment, stressed that "(...) we must continue to drive the country's economic development and promote a sustainable and low-emission economic recovery that allows us to serve the entire Panamanian population; recognising their adaptation needs in facing the vulnerability generated by climate change".

"It is through the promotion of paradigm shifts that allow us to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of resource use and transform the way we produce goods and services," she said.

For her part, Felice Zaccheo, Head of Unit of the European Union's Directorate-General for International Development Cooperation, underlined during her speech that: "The Country Plan that we present today together with our Panamanian friends confirms, once again, the strong commitment of Panama and the European Union to face the common challenge of climate change". She added that "... the draft for Panama's first Framework Law on Climate Change, developed with the support of EUROCLIMA+, is a good example of this commitment and of the cooperation between the two parties, which today is renewed with a series of actions that will contribute to maintaining Panama as a carbon negative country".

Since the Rio Earth Summit, through the EU-LAC Summit in Lima in May 2008, relations and cooperation between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, including the different phases of regional programmes such as EUROCLIMA and EUROCLIMA+, have served as a platform to strengthen dialogue between the two regions, creating synergies and exchanging knowledge on climate change issues. 

As a result of the analysis of the submitted priorities and responsiveness, EUROCLIMA+ confirmed support and cooperation with most of the submitted actions. The prioritised actions are based on the commitments presented in the NDC updated in 2020, and contribute directly and significantly to the implementation of this strategic framework.

Panama is the second country in the Latin American and Caribbean region to launch the Country Action Plan. The first event was held in Costa Rica last week and several launches are planned for the rest of the region in 2022.

We invite you to download the presentations that were given during the event:

1. General presentation of EUROCLIMA+ and ongoing Actions in Panama: Carles Puigmarti, Directorate General for International Partnerships, European Union.
2. EUROCLIMA+ Action Plan in Panama, Ligia Castro de Doens, Director of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment (MiAMBIENTE).

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About EUROCLIMA+

EUROCLIMA+ is a programme funded by the European Union and co-financed by the German federal government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as by the governments of France and Spain through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation.

The Programme's mission is to reduce the impact of climate change and its effects in 18 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting mitigation, adaptation, resilience and climate investment. It is implemented according to the "Spirit of Team Europe" under the synergistic work of seven agencies: the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the French Development Agency (AFD), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Expertise France (EF), the International and Ibero-America Foundation for Administration and Public Policy (FIIAPP), the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).