Technical Subgroup on MRV of the Pacific Alliance (SGT-MRV) shares a report of its fourth face-to-face meeting

September 8, 2022.- The SGT-MRV of the Pacific Alliance shares the Executive Report of its fourth face-to-face meeting held in Bogotá the first week of August, which included delegates from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, as well as a representative from Ecuador as a guest country.

The Report gives an account of the beginning of the second stage of development of the SGT-MRV Coordination Framework, thanks to the technical and financial support of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Gold Standard as implementing agency. It also notes that the Bogotá meeting:

  • Served as a meeting space between the focal points and delegates from the countries, who met for the first time officially since 2019.

  • Gold Standard was formally presented as an implementing partner of the second phase of the SGT-MRV.

  • A balance of the first stage and the main milestones generated from the implementation of the Coordination Framework (2018-2021) was made.

  • The countries disclosed the status of their MRV systems.

  • Activities and products of the new Coordination Framework for the short, medium and long term were updated and agreed upon, and

  • A common vision to 2026 was defined for the SGT-MRV: In 2026 the countries of the Pacific Alliance will have operational and sustainable MRV systems, which will be a reference for other regions and an input for South-South cooperation.

Likewise, three priority objectives were established to be achieved in 2026:

  1. Consolidate the technical capacities in the countries to lead the monitoring and reporting of climate mitigation, adaptation and financing.

  2. Move towards standards and protocols for monitoring and reporting policies and actions for climate mitigation, adaptation and financing, harmonized among the countries of the Pacific Alliance.

  3. Have in the countries of the Pacific Alliance with MRV systems implemented and harmonized with the next Biennial Transparency Reports (BTR).

The Report is now available on the website of the Pacific Alliance: click here

IV Pacific Alliance International Cooperation Forum

August 30, 2022.- Today the IV Pacific Alliance Cooperation Forum was inaugurated in order to create a space for dialogue, exchange of knowledge and experiences between the regional bloc, its Observer States and other partners, to promote and stimulate international technical cooperation, the Pacific Alliance Strategic Vision to the year 2030 and social and economic recovery with an emphasis on youth.

The Cooperation Forum is one of the main means of collaboration between the Pacific Alliance and its Observer States, which, year after year, seeks to strengthen cooperation ties with the international community.

This year’s meeting, held in a virtual format in two sessions, is organized into dialogue tables that will address issues such as disaster risk management: i) good practices for strengthening capacities in seismic risk including tsunamis, and its impact on the society; ii) technical assistance and good practices for sustainable production and better use of fertilizers; environment: sustainable management of plastics; gender; and economic recovery with a focus on youth and tourism (theme of the PA 2022 Cooperation Fund).

The IV PA Cooperation Forum was attended by more than 350 people from 36 Observer States, with Korea as a special guest who made presentations in three of the panels, thus being the Cooperation Forum with the greatest response in the history of the Pacific Alliance.

As part of its objectives, it seeks to invite Observer States to collaborate on the topics and projects presented by the Technical Groups, Committees, Subcommittees and Working Groups in the 2022 call for the PA Cooperation Fund, as well as follow up on the offers of cooperation carried out by Observer States during past versions of the Forum.

It is expected that after the IV PA Cooperation Forum, the Observer States contribute with resources, human or financial, to the projects that are of mutual interest, which contribute to strengthening the capacities of the Pacific Alliance.

COMMUNICATIONS PPT PACIFIC ALLIANCE

X Business Matching Forum of the Pacific Alliance seeks to promote SMEs

  • Exporters from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru will meet with more than 100 buyers in America, Europe and Asia.

August 29, 2022.- The Pacific Alliance Business Matching Forum is the iconic event focused on generating opportunities and promoting exports of goods from the bloc in strategic third markets. The X edition is made up of three virtual business roundtables focused on America, Europe and Asia and will seek to promote SMEs in the block. The first round will take place from September 26 to 30 and will focus on America for the agri-food and beverage, cosmetic and hygiene products, medical instruments and manufacturing sectors. The second round will focus on strategic markets for the bloc’s countries in Europe. The defined sectors are agri-food and beverages, consumer goods such as textiles and footwear, wooden articles, and fine pearls. Furthermore, in this round, the exporting companies owned or led by a woman will have the priority.

Finally, from the Pacific Alliance we want to expand the bloc’s presence in Asia, so the third round to be held in the last week of October will focus on Asian markets. The prioritized sectors are agro-food and beverages and manufacturing in general such as mechanical and electrical devices and plastics. A great novelty of this tenth edition is the boost to SMEs on three wheels. In the Pacific Alliance we have the mission of promoting the inclusion of micro, small and medium-sized companies in export processes in international commercial activities. For this reason, in each of the business roundtables, of the total number of places available, 60% are reserved for SMEs.

Check the bases and register for free at https://www.xmcralianzadelpacifico.com/

High Level Group of the Pacific Alliance gathers in Lima

August 26, 2022.- Based in Lima, Peru, today the meeting of the High Level Group of the Pacific Alliance (GAN) was held, a body made up of Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, in order to discuss issues on the common agenda.

On this occasion, the high officials evaluated the progress presented by the Technical Cooperation Group and the PA Cooperation Council, as well as commercial issues for the benefit of the four countries. Likewise, they approved the projects presented at the juncture of the 2022 Call for the Cooperation Fund of the Pacific Alliance.

Likewise, the analysis of the expressions of interest of Ecuador and Costa Rica to join the mechanism continued and it was approved to recommend to the Council of Ministers of the Pacific Alliance the admission of Malta as a new Observer State.

The High Level Group welcomed the forthcoming IV Cooperation Forum, on August 30 and 31, with the purpose of exploring opportunities for international cooperation with regional blocs, Observer States and other allied entities of the PA on issues such as creative industries, environment and sustainability, etc.; as well as the celebration of the VII AP Youth Meeting that seeks to bring together young people from the four countries in an event based in Mexico City.

Finally, the GAN received representatives from the Business Council of the Pacific Alliance (CEAP), a body made up of the private sector of the four countries, in order to learn about their contributions to the mechanism.

Participating in the meeting for Mexico, current pro tempore presidency of the mechanism, were Luz María de la Mora, Undersecretary of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economy, and Efraín Guadarrama, General Director of American Regional Organizations and Mechanisms, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; for Chile, José Miguel Ahumada, Undersecretary for International Economic Relations; for Colombia, Laura Gil, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Luis Felipe Quinteros, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism; and for Peru, Ana Cecilia Gervasi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Miguel Palomino, Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.

COMMUNICATIONS PPT PACIFIC ALLIANCE

Meeting of National Coordinators of the Pacific Alliance

August 25, 2022.- As a preamble to the meeting of the High Level Group of the Pacific Alliance (GAN, by its acronym in Spanish) made up by Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, which will be held tomorrow in Lima, Peru, the meeting of National Coordinators of the PA will be held in that city with the objective of discussing issues on the common agenda such as the follow-up to joint declarations, the IV Cooperation Forum on the 30th and August 31, with the purpose of exploring opportunities for international cooperation with regional blocs, Observer States and other allied instances of the PA on issues such as creative industries, environment and sustainability, etc.; as well as the VII AP Youth Meeting, organized by Nestlé, which will bring together young people from the four countries in an event based in Mexico City.

Likewise, the representatives of the four countries moved forward on issues related to the reactivation of the audiovisual creative industries, the dissemination activities by the embassies of the 4 countries and improvements in the management of the mechanism.

COMMUNICATIONS PPT PACIFIC ALLIANCE

Pacific Alliance promotes Second Latin American Meeting of DMCs

As part of the IBTM Americas, one of the most important meetings and incentive tourism fairs that took place in Mexico City, the tourism promotion entities of the Technical Group Promotion Agencies (Meet in Chile – National Service of Tourism, ProColombia, the Ministry of Tourism of Mexico and Promperu) participated in the Second Latin American Meeting of DMCs.

At the meeting, the technical group promoted the advantages of the Pacific Alliance in the meetings industry and showed the joint work it carries out to promote destinations and companies from member countries. Likewise, the infrastructures and services available to each of the PA countries were announced.

The union of forces beyond territorial borders is the basis for the construction of new tourism and the reactivation of the economy.

As ties strengthen within the Pacific Alliance, there is parallel work to turn the bloc into a world power for business and opportunity. The joint work of the four countries is also demonstrated by the presence of the Pacific Alliance in international promotion fairs, such as the IBTM Americas at the Citibanamex Center, Mexico City.

The offer for the Congresses and Conventions segment of the countries that make up the Pacific Alliance is diverse, the connections are multiple and the opportunities to do business are endless.

The Pacific Alliance is ranked #6 in the World Ranking of the ICCA (International Congress and Convention Association), 7 cities of countries of the block are within the top 20 at the level of the Americas. The AP contributes 41% of the congresses held in Latin American countries.

The Youth Volunteer Program of the Pacific Alliance 2022 is installed

August 18, 2022.- This August 18 will be carried out jointly the installation of the Youth Volunteer Program of the Pacific Alliance 2022, virtual modality, in order to generate a space for common participation among the participating volunteers, and to publicize the objectives and description of each project.

The welcoming remarks will be given by Álvaro Calderón Ponce de León, director of International Cooperation and coordinator of the Technical Group for Cooperation of the Pacific Alliance. Likewise, there will be the words of the youth and/or volunteer authorities of the four countries: Rafael González Gordillo, national director of the Special Administrative Unit of Solidarity Organizations of Colombia – Youth Volunteer Coordination of the Pacific Alliance 2022; Juan Pablo Duhalde, national deputy director of the National Youth Institute of Chile; Guillermo Rafael Santiago Rodríguez, general director of the Mexican Youth Institute; and Darío Barboza Fustamante, national secretary of the National Youth Secretariat of Peru.

As part of today’s activities, the volunteers from the four countries will take part in an interactive dynamic that invites them to participate and reflect on the value of cultural differences, the recognition of identity and the possibility to build community even at a distance, as well as expectations, experiences, and motivations with the exercise of volunteering.

Finally, the event will close with the artistic presentation by Leonardy Pérez, Colombian cultural leader and the farewell words by Angela Bohórquez Avendaño, Coordinator of Synergies and Special Attention to Women – Uaeos.

It’s worth to mention that the 2022 edition of the Program had the application of nearly two thousand young people from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, of which around 240 will be integrated into the projects that will be executed by each of the four countries.

The installation of the Program can be seen live from the Facebook account of the Pacific Alliance: https://www.facebook.com/thepacificalliance, as well as through the Facebook accounts of INJUV Chile: https://www.facebook.com/INJUVChile/, UAEOS from Colombia: https://www.facebook.com/UaeosCo, IMJUVE from Mexico: https://www.facebook.com/IMJUVE.Instituto.Mexicano.dela.Juventud/ and SENAJU from Peru: https://www.facebook.com/senajperu/

Youth Volunteering of the Pacific Alliance

Participation in this Program provides an enriching social and cultural exchange experience between young people from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, in which significant links are created and proposals for change are built in the face of social and environmental problems that affect the region.

In 2022, the Youth Volunteer Program of the Pacific Alliance will be focused on facing the difficult global, regional and national context generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected young people in health, education, economy and work. Thus, the actions proposed in the four volunteer projects are intended to be a window of opportunities and possibilities to motivate young people in their initiatives, on the road to recovery.

With these types of activities, the Pacific Alliance promotes the formation of solidarity behaviors in young people, which have a positive impact on society, considering that youth are key actors in social change.

The projects presented by the four countries are:

CHILE:

The general objective of the project “INJUV Laboratory: Leaders for transformative volunteering” is to create a network of youth leaders to promote integration among young people from Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, in order to promote transformative volunteering initiatives in their communities.

The project seeks to strengthen the volunteering ecosystem, supporting young people from the different countries of the Pacific Alliance in mutual learning to strengthen their actions and the generation of common networks.

COLOMBIA:

The general objective of the project “Generations that Connect and international solidarity as the articulating axis of Youth Volunteering” is to promote a network of young volunteers who support older people, and who, through the exchange of knowledge and intergenerational experiences, mitigate the effects of loneliness, isolation or discrimination; seeking to maintain the health, well-being and dignity of the elderly and young people, and at the same time strengthen volunteering in its international dimension with a transforming purpose and commitment of social capital to the development of the region.

The project seeks to integrate young people into the government strategy “Generations that connect” with a view to solidarity, in post-emergency times, towards older people, providing tools in soft skills, communication and humanized accompaniment strategies that materialize their volunteering, as well as providing knowledge and understanding of the concepts associated with volunteering such as assistance, philanthropy, charity, altruism, and cooperation in its international dimension, with a transforming purpose and commitment of social capital to the development of the region.

MEXICO:

The general objective of the “Tierra Joven-Voluntad Joven” project seeks to strengthen the integration of young people from the four countries of the Pacific Alliance through actions that contribute to their empowerment and leadership, to intergenerational solidarity and to the reconstruction of the social fabric. The project seeks to strengthen skills for the creation and development of socio-environmental impact projects to improve their actions in environment protection and climate change mitigation and promote exchange in educational matters through digital tools, all this from a perspective of gender and having as its center the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda.

PERU:

The general objective of the project «A-Gente de Cambio: Constructing experiences for the promotion of adolescent mental health» is to contribute to the strengthening of regional integration within the framework of the Pacific Alliance through the training of agents of change to the promotion of mental health in adolescents at risk in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The young volunteers will participate in a virtual training process to design and execute a mental health promotion program aimed at adolescents from the Comprehensive Family Development Centers (CEDIF) located in different regions of Peru to strengthen their skills to face the challenges of life in the context of the pandemic and the return to attendance, as well as to contribute to their community as agents of change.

National Coordinators of the Pacific Alliance meet with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN

August 18, 2022.- On August 16 the National Coordinators of the Pacific Alliance held a virtual meeting with the Committee of Permanent Representatives to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN in order to review the implementation of the AP-ASEAN Work Plan (2021-2025), whose adoption in 2021 aims to continue strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between both mechanisms. This plan is focused on the following areas: economic cooperation; in matters of education and culture; science, technology and innovation, as well as smart cities and connectivity; environment and sustainable development, and post-pandemic recovery.

As part of the meeting, the possible realization of the VII AP-ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in the framework of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly was assessed and the upcoming IV Cooperation Forum of the Pacific Alliance was announced for August 30 and 31, with the objective of exploring opportunities for international cooperation with regional blocs, Observer States and other allied entities of the PA on issues such as creative industries, environment and sustainability, gender and women’s empowerment, among others.

COMMUNICATIONS PPT PACIFIC ALLIANCE

First ministerial meeting on empowerment and economic autonomy of women of the Pacific Alliance

August 5, 2022.- On August 5, 2022, the First Ministerial Meeting on Empowerment and Economic Autonomy of Women of the Pacific Alliance was held.

The opening was in charge of Mexico as pro tempore presidency of the Pacific Alliance, in which the Undersecretary of Foreign Trade of the Ministry of Economy, Luz María de la Mora, and the President of the National Institute for Women, Nadine Gasman Zylbermann gave the welcome highlighting the importance of women’s empowerment and gender equity within the Pacific Alliance.

The meeting was divided into 3 blocks. The first one included the participation of Diana Miloslavich Tupac, Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations of Peru, Gheidy Gallo Santos, Presidential Adviser for Women’s Equity of Colombia, Luz Pascuala Vidal Huiriqueo, Undersecretary of Women and Gender Equity Chile, and Luz María de la Mora, Undersecretary of Foreign Trade of Mexico, as well as the moderation of Nicole Bidegain, ECLAC Social Affairs Officer. During this segment, the ministers and deputy ministers highlighted the progress of their countries in promoting gender in economic and commercial matters, and pointed out the challenges that still persist to expand the participation of rural and indigenous women in trade.

The meeting was divided into 3 blocks. The first included the participation of Diana Miloslavich Tupac, Minister of Women and Vulnerable Populations of Peru, Gheidy Gallo Santos, Presidential Adviser for Women’s Equity of Colombia, Luz Pascuala Vidal Huiriqueo, Undersecretary of Women and Gender Equity Chile, and Luz María de la Mora, Undersecretary of Foreign Trade of Mexico, as well as the moderation of Nicole Bidegain, ECLAC Social Affairs Officer. During this segment, the ministers and deputy ministers highlighted the progress of their countries in promoting gender in economic and commercial matters, and pointed out the challenges that still persist to expand the participation of rural and indigenous women in trade.

Officials from the World Bank, CAF, ECLAC and the OECD participated in the second block, and it was moderated by the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of UN Women, María Noel Vaeza. During this segment, the panelists pointed out the importance of betting on economic and foreign trade policies with a gender approach; and exposed the need to take ambitious actions to close gender gaps. During their presentations, the panelists highlighted that only 11% of women in Latin America export and the importance of increasing this number, pointing out that the participation of women generates a positive impact on exports, on the quality of goods and services, in the quality of work and contracts. Likewise, the urgency of promoting access to digitalization was pointed out, as this is what really allows women to face the world out there world with their enterprises.

For its part, in block 3 there was a dialogue with different rural entrepreneurs from the Pacific Alliance countries. In this segment, attendees had the opportunity to participate and delve into the success stories of the businesswomen present.

At the closing ceremony, the Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Colombia highlighted the work of the Technical Gender Group of the Pacific Alliance based on the 2022 Bahía Málaga Declaration to promote greater participation of companies led by women in production chains, with special emphasis on rural women’s enterprises. Additionally, all the countries of the Pacific Alliance were urged to work to create a favorable business ecosystem for women, promoting cooperation between the private and public sectors and collaboration and coordinated work at all levels.

Canada makes official a CAD$4.5 million economic support package to the Pacific Alliance countries to strengthen their climate measuring, reporting, and verification systems

August 2nd, 2022.- Canada announced on July 14th a new support package for the Pacific Alliance countries with the objective of strengthening domestic climate measuring, reporting and verification (MRV) systems. The best development and quality of these information systems are the key to design and implement coherent, robust, and effective climate policies.

The announcement was made by the Canadian Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, at the 29th annual session of the Council of the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation, held in Mérida, Mexico, where he met with the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico, María Luisa Albores González, in which he announced CAD$4.5 million for the next four years to support the Pacific Alliance countries.

The member countries of the Pacific Alliance recognize that climate change today represents the main threat to human development, and they also understand that the region is an extremely vulnerable area to its effects. All four countries have made significant efforts to adjust and they have committed to ambitiously reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, today they face the challenge of moving towards a green recovery after the social and economic ravages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2018, after the Declaration of Cali 2017, the Pacific Alliance reaffirmed its individual and collaborative commitments to the Paris Agreement, making the decision to strengthen information to monitor the impacts of the implementation of actions, programs, and policies. Under this approach, the countries stressed the need for a better understanding and compatibility of their MRV systems. Then, the MRV Technical Subgroup of the Pacific Alliance (SGT-MRV) comes up as an opportunity to work jointly and collaborate among the countries of the region to address this need.

Thanks to a first support package from the Government of Canada, it was possible to develop and implement a Coordination Framework that guided the work of the SGT-MRV between 2018 and 2021. In this first phase, the focus was on MRV of climate financing, mitigation actions, and carbon price instruments, establishing a broad and active community of exchange and knowledge around the MRV systems in the Pacific Alliance countries.

This second support package, which will be implemented by the Gold Standard Foundation, consolidates the work of the SGT-MRV. It will undoubtedly be a fundamental contribution to continue advancing the robustness, transparency, and harmonization of our MRV systems. As well as an opportunity to continue promoting decision-making based on data and evidence, and improve the implementation of the regional climate agenda.

To start this second phase, the SGT-MRV focal points will come together on August 3rd and 4th in Bogotá, Colombia, to assess the first phase of implementation, as well as officially launch the second phase and define the main milestones to accomplish in the next four years.

Some of the reactions of the governments involved:

Climate change is affecting communities and countries around the world. Global solutions, including Canada’s climate finance commitments, are vital in helping countries not only track and understand their emissions but also increase their climate action. Our engagement with the Pacific Alliance will provide new tools and help national and local governments to build the capacity to establish effective and efficient climate measuring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems to set mitigation priorities and attract the funding needed to implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC)”.

– Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Canada

Gold Standard hopes to support cooperation between governments to maximize the impact of climate finance and achieve the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, but also – and this is important – to warrant that this financing offers tangible contributions to the national development priorities of the countries. Pacific Alliance governments and support local capacity to unlock ongoing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)”.

– Margaret Kim, CEO of The Gold Standard Foundation

Monitoring progress in the implementation of mitigation measures and in financing flows are essential to strengthen the comprehensive management of climate change. As well, they contribute to the increase in climate action, directing the country toward a sustainable, resilient, and carbon neutral development.

In this context, the Measuring, Reporting, and Verification Technical Subgroup constitute a valuable space for the exchange of experiences among the countries of the Pacific Alliance, which allows sharing of lessons learned about the national processes underway to implement ambitious climate action, in countries with similar contexts and problems. In this regard, Canada´s support has been essential for the development of the subgroup´s activities and its continuity will allow the feedback of experiences and information to uplift the development of the monitoring systems of the member countries”.

– Milagros Sandoval, General Director of Climate Change and Desertification. Ministry of Environment of Peru

“The technical and financial support provided by Canada for the installation and development of the Pacific Alliance´s SGTMRV was highly successful. We have a community around MRV technical topics that are actively operating. The new support that Canada will provide will be essential to strengthen our work towards more harmonious and sophisticated MRV systems in areas such as mitigation actions, carbon price instruments, and climate funding”.

– Jenny Mager, Head of the Climate Change Division. Ministry of Environment of Chile

From Colombia as the current Technical Secretary of the Pacific Alliance´s SGTMRV, we highlight the value of sharing experiences and learning with other countries in the Region to strengthen MRV and the comprehensive management of climate change. On this matter, having the support of the Canadian government in this process is an opportunity to technically guide the SGTMRV work based on the needs of the countries, and thus promote more robust, transparent, and regionally aligned MRV systems”.

– Alex Saer, Director of Climate Change and Risk Management, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia

The Government of Mexico recognizes the need to build measuring systems that contain a common structure and methodology but are sensitive and appropriate to the context, which allows having statistical and documentary information, implementer perceptions, beneficiaries understanding, and collective reflections on the processes and results obtained. Therefore, and given that it is essential to develop multidisciplinary work, the task carried out by the Pacific Alliance´s Technical Subgroup of Measuring, Reporting, and Verification has made it possible to promote institutional work. Its continuity will generate a sense of urgency in the governments of the Alliance to democratize access to international resources, guarantee climate action in the territory, and transparency in the use of financing destined to address climate change.

Thanks to exchange actions between similar countries such as those carried out within the framework of this community of MRV experts, international funds will serve to strengthen the priority programs of governments and the needs of the communities most vulnerable to climate change”.

– Agustín Ávila, General Director of Policies for Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico (SEMARNAT)