This document discusses the results of a global survey on urban climate adaptation planning conducted by JoAnn Carmin, Nikhil Nadkarni, and Christopher Rhie. Some key findings include that 79% of cities worldwide report changes in climate over the past 5 years and 68% are pursuing adaptation planning. However, funding is a major challenge, with 85% of cities agreeing on this and around 60% receiving no support. The document also provides case studies of Quito, Ecuador and Mexico City, Mexico and their efforts in climate adaptation planning and mitigation at the local level driven by local actors and priorities.

1. Climate Change
Adaptation and Mitigation plans,
policies and investments

2. Perceptions of Climate Change
Progress and Challenges in Urban
Climate Adaptation Planning;
Results of a Global Survey by JoAnn
Carmin, Nikhil Nadkarni, and Christopher Rhie

3. Progress and Challenges in
Urban Climate Adaptation
Planning; Results of a Global
Survey by JoAnn Carmin, Nikhil
Nadkarni, and Christopher Rhie


Survey sent to members of ICLEI-Local Governments for
Sustainability

468 Cities (44% completed the 40-
question survey)

79% Cities worldwide report change in
climate over the past five years

68% Cities report that they are pursuing
adaptation planning

4.  Latin American and
Canadian Cities have the
highest rates of
engagement (95% and
92% respectively)
 According to JoAnn
Carmin's article a greater
proportion of cities in
Latin America are
engaged in climate
adaptation and planning
than any other region

5. Challenges in Adaptation Planning
1) Funding For Adaptation
85% of Cities worldwide agree that funding is one of the major challenges in advancing in
adaptation
Around 60% are not receiving any support for their adaptation activities
2) Communicating the need for adaptation to elected
officials and local departments
according to survey 7% cities believe national governments understand the realities of
adaptation (30% of National governments have no understanding of realities cities face)
3) Gaining commitments of National Government for
Local adaptation challenges

6. Resilient Cities: Case Studies
Quito and Mexico City
Working from Local to Global
Examples of climate change initiatives motived by
endogenous factors and sustained through local actors

8. Quito, Ecuador
Background
Country: Ecuador
City: Quito
Population: 2.24 Million
Climate Change Risks: drought, heavy rain,
flooding, landslides

9. Quito has a
subtropical
climate. Steep
slopes, ravines
and gorges
define its urban
landscape

10. In recent years Quito has been extremely vulnerable to climate
change. Floods and landslides contribute to local vulnerability. More
than 670 thousand people live in areas classified as high-risk.

11. Quito, Ecuador
Background
Quito is one of the first
municipalities in Ecuador to
address environmental issues.
 Quito has a history of planning and
preparing for extreme events
 1999- Risk management plans
respond to the rain as not 'normal' and
that climatic impacts are the cause for
vulnerability.

12. Quito, Ecuador
Planning for Climate Change
Events and Actors

2006 - Mayor Paco
Moncayo and
Metropolitan council
organise Clima Latino
a climate change
conference for the
Andean community

13. Planning for Climate Change
Events and Actors
Inter-Institutional Commission
Key figures

Municipal representatives (air and

2007- Gonzalo Ortiz, a water corporations)
metropolitan Councilor receives
support from the council and 
Members from metropolitan office
the mayor to create an Inter- for environment
Institutional Commission after 
Members of Strategic Research
report on temperature and Unit
Glacial changes
Task

Prepare draft on climate strategy
for Quito

14. Quito, Ecuador
Quito Strategy for Climate Change
(EQCC)

Released in Feb 2008 and formally approved by the
Metropolitan Council in Oct 2009 the EQCC has
become the official environmental policy in Quito *
* At the same time EQCC was approved Quito created a Climate Change
Office within the Environmental office

15. Quito, Ecuador
Keys factors attributing to Quito's
success
1) Understanding climate change as a real
threat to the city
2) Strong commitment of the Local
Government
3) The advancement of local priorities-
strategy plan was a result of generating
ideas internally, experimenting and
innovating

16. Quito, Ecuador
Why use Quito's example?

No national laws, policies, or international frameworks
guided or supported Quito's effort.

Quito received support from bilateral funding and
development banks but neither agencies imposed
their personal agenda or requirements (the resources
were used to advance already existing initiatives)

Quito involved local NGO's

17. WEEK 2
Mexico City

18. Mexico City, Mexico
Background
Country: Mexico
Capitol: Mexico City
Population: 8,85 million
Climate Change Risks: flooding,
droughts, other water relevant
hazards.

19. Mexico City, Mexico
Background
Around 88 per cent of all GHG emissions in Mexico City are attributed to energy
consumption in the form of fossil fuels and electricity used in transportation,
industry, trade, housing, or services.
The Mexico City government
shares the vision emerging
from the most recent
conclusions of the
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC),
which establishes that,
beyond a shadow of a doubt,
global warming is a reality.

20. Like Quito the most vulnerable
groups in Mexico city are at
risk (they are more likely to be
affected by heavy rain and
drought). Groups at risk have
fewer resources to cope with
catastrophes and require
longer recuperation time.

21. Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City municipality recognises climate change
risk and in 2007 implements a green management
initiative publishing a 15-year cross disciplinary
Green Plan (Plan Verde) to run until the year 2021

The plan, which has the backing of the World Bank
and the United Nations, consists of 26 strategies
and 113 special focus areas

22. Mexico City, Mexico
Mitigation/Adaptation

Geared toward the reduction
of Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
and CO2

A total of 26 GHG mitigation
actions proposed

23. Mexico City, Mexico

In 2008 the Green Plan creates the Mexico City
Action Plan. The action plan is aimed at supporting
new initiatives as well as already existing efforts.

Programme serves as the first instrument of public
policy planning on climate change in Mexico aimed
at mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

24. Mexico City, Mexico
5 objectives of Action Programme
1) To influence behavioural patterns, habits, and attitudes of the
City's population so as to mitigate climate change
2) To attract investments and financing
3) To promote technological innovations
4) To position Mexico City and its government as national and
international leaders in the field of mitigating greenhouse gas
emissions
5) To set out guidelines for public policies

25. Climate Action Program Results

7.7 ton reduction of carbon dioxide equivalent
(CO2) emission over the 4 year period. It
surpassed its goal by 10.2%

In addition Mexico City met the second goal of
the program: implementing a fully operational
program on climate change adaptation,
including forestry, agriculture, health, poverty
and biodiversity.

26. Mexico City Results
Reduction across multiple sectors
Transportation: 4.8M tons CO2e (62% of total emissions
reductions)
Waste management: 1.2M tons CO2e (15.3% “ “ “ “)
Carbon sequestration by reforestation: 893,471 tons CO2e
(11.6% “ ” ” ”)
Energy efficiency: 834, 529 tons CO2e (10.8 % “ “ “ “)
Water management: 4,670 tons CO2e (0.1% “ “ “ “)

27. Why use Mexico City's example?

Mexico City’s Climate Action Programme served as the first
instrument of public policy planning on climate change in
Mexico, and provides a foundation for the country’s
leadership on environmental issues in the international
arena.

High degree of public participation and engagement in
environment-related issues

28. Sources
Carmin, J., Nadkarni, N., Rhie, C. 2012. Progress and Challenges in Urban Climate
Adaptation Planning: Results of a Global Survey. Cambridge, MA: MIT
Carmin,J., Anguelovski, I., Roberts, D. 2012. Urban Climate Adaptation in the Global
South: Planning in an Emerging Domain. Journal of Planning Education and
Research. 32(1) 18-32
Martínez, O.V, Beatriz del Valle Cárdenas, B. V, Álvarez, S.S. (eds) 2008. Mexico
City Climate Action Program 2008-2012/ Summary. World Bank, Washington, DC
Final report of Mexico City’s 2008-2012 Climate Action Program
Download available on-
http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/09/13/mexico-city-meets-exceeds
-climate-action-program-goals/
10 highlights of mexico city's climate action program
http://www.mexicocityexperience.com/green_living/
Mexico City: Successful environmental management
http://www.dac.dk/en/dac-cities/sustainable-cities-2/all-cases/social-city/mexico-city-
successful-environmental-management/

29. ella.practicalaction.org/
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