Climate Action and the Paris Agreement: the Role of Cities in Latin America and the Caribbean

More than 6 years after the entry into force of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the implementation of the consensus reached needs to be accelerated to ensure the achievement of ambitious climate goals. Recognizing that local governments have competence over the potential for climate change mitigation as well as for implementing adaptation strategies in Latin America and the Caribbean, this publication highlights the relevance of translating and adapting national goals to local contexts and needs in a collaborative manner. It provides recommendations for moving towards localizing climate initiatives in cities and improving capacities for multilevel climate governance in a local context. It aims to show the capacity of cities to lead transformative climate action in light of the main challenges of climate change, the profile of greenhouse gas emissions generated by the region, and the climate commitments made at national and local levels. It assesses the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) of the countries in the region and the cities' climate action plans, providing a pragmatic approach to translate the global objectives of the Paris Agreement into implementable actions at all scales. Finally, the publication makes visible climate solutions led by cities in Latin America and the Caribbean, setting precedents and offering ideas and experiences for more cities to contribute to the necessary climate action. This publication is aimed primarily at subnational decision-makers in Latin America and the Caribbean, and is considered a useful reference for multiple climate action managers, especially those interested in promoting and facilitating coordinated climate action at all levels.