Vertically integrated climate protection (VICLIM)

In many countries, the decision makers responsible for climate action policy at a national and subnational level remain unable to draw on the experience, knowledge and expertise that is necessary for the analysis of urban mitigation potential and its systematic inclusion in national climate action efforts. The project provided decision makers and relevant organisations with support in exploiting this potential as part of an ambitious and integrated national climate action policy. To do so, the project worked to improve the general conditions for implementing subnational mitigation activities in partner countries, supported existing municipal approaches and initiated international learning processes. The project also drew up a set of measures aligned with the German National Climate Initiative (NKI). The project also featured intercommunication and dialogue formats, and cooperation with established networks/platforms working working on climate change.

Project data

Countries: Costa Rica, Georgia, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa
IKI funding: 3,200,000.00 €
Duration: 08/2016 till 07/2020
Status: completed
Implementing organisation: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
Political Partner: Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) - South Africa*

Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) - Costa Rica

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) - Mexico

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MoEPA) - Georgia

State Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) - Indonesia
Implementing Partner: Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) - South Africa*

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability e.V.

Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) - Costa Rica

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) - Mexico

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MoEPA) - Georgia

State Ministry of National Development Planning (BAPPENAS) - Indonesia
Online: https://www.giz.de/en/worldwide/42707.html

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State of implementation/results

Project completed.
In Mexico, a toolbox for subnational contributions to the NDCs has been made available since 2018. It includes state-of-the-art materials for local and federal climate policies and tools, training materials, good practices and informational videos.
Mexico's National Commission for Energy Efficiency (CONUEE) aims to promote the creation of local energy efficiency networks. The corresponding funding programme of the National Climate Initiative of Germany (NKI) served as an example. An orientation with recommendations was created. In May 2019, a national symposium took place with lectures by the German Institute for Urban Affairs and the German Energy Agency. The state of Jalisco has a new guide to local climate action plans that integrate mitigation and adaptation measures; this was piloted in the coastal city of Puerto Vallarta in 2019; through webinars and a blog, other communities could follow the process.
In 2017, Costa Rica published the Municipal Contribution to the National Low Emission Strategy Programme (Programa País Carbono Neutralidad Categoría Cantonal, PPCNC), which allows municipalities to be certified for their progress in climate change. 6 municipalities created greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories by the end of 2018, thus obtaining the first certificate within the PPCNC and identifying mitigation measures. The project has supported and now accompanies them in the development of their climate protection plans (second certificate) as well as feasibility studies for individual measures. Together with the IKI project Acción Clima II, a competition was held among municipalities for further GHG inventories. 14 were selected from a total of nearly 50 applicants from 82 communities across the country.
In Indonesia, the project supported the National Planning Ministry (BAPPENAS) in its role of coordinating national and sub-national climate change planning. In bi-annual workshops, the 34 provinces reviewed and updated their mitigation plans, their integration in the five-year plans, and record the impact of the measures within the PEP-Online monitoring platform. The project also supported BAPPENAS in implementing the new Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS). Guidelines for the preparation of the new Low Emission Carbon Development Plans (PPRKs) have been prepared for various sectors; the project has specifically developed the guide for the waste sector in the provinces. In addition, a planning tool for municipal waste management was developed.
In September 2018, the Ministry of Environment of Georgia kicked off the preparation of the National Climate Action Plan; Municipalities are involved in the process right from the start and local representatives participate in the sectoral working groups. A charter for the planned national climate change committee was to institutionalize the representation of the municipalities.

Latest Update:
12/2025