Eleven state and regional governments and one city made the pledge at the Climate Summit of the Americas in August, which welcomed over 1,500 delegates from across Latin America to collaborate on climate action. A further two Mexican states – Jalisco and Oaxaca – joined the pledge this week by signing the declaration at the Under2 Coalition Members’ Forum that took place today at Climate Week NYC.
The Declaration of Santa Fe outlines that signatories are committed to sharing climate mitigation and adaption strategies with the wider region as well as working with national governments to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and developing and implementing strong adaptation plans to combat the impacts of climate change.
Speaking last month at the Climate Summit of the Americas, Miguel Lifschitz, the Governor of Santa Fe and co-chair of the Under2 Coalition, commented:
“Subnational governments have a growing role in the fight for climate change. We are fully committed to promoting ambitious policies and taking the necessary action to reduce carbon emissions and ensure global temperature rise remains below 2⁰C.”
The Climate Summit of the Americas also featured the signing of Mexican state Campeche as a member of the Under2 Coalition. A coastal state with a population of around 900,000, Campeche is challenged by the increasing threat of coastal flooding, particularly as agriculture and fishing form an integral part of the state’s economy.
By signing the Under2 MOU, Campeche joins states and regions from around the world – including 16 other Mexican states – in demonstrating a commitment to reducing emissions and keeping global temperature rises to well below 2⁰C. Around 45% of Mexico’s GDP is now represented within the coalition as well as 53% of the national population.
Sarah Duffy, Under2 Coalition Government Relations Manager for the Americas, commented:
“The Declaration of Santa Fe is a fantastic framework that will allow Latin American states to share strategies to tackle climate change while positioning the region as a key international player in climate change mitigation.
“States and regions are in a unique position to tackle climate change head-on and the 14 states that have signed the declaration are leading the way to ensuring that Latin America is at the forefront of ambitious action.
“I’d like to formally welcome Campeche to the coalition as we continue to grow our Latin American reach. This growth reflects the pace of climate action being taken by states and regions and the unique position they are in to tackle climate change head-on.”
Full list of signatories:
- Santa Fe, Argentina
- Mato Grosso, Brazil
- Campeche, Mexico
- Colima, Mexico
- Quintana Roo, Mexico
- Yucatan, Mexico
- Oaxaca, Mexico
- Jalisco, Mexico
- Sonora, Mexico
- Amazonas, Brazil
- Sao Paulo, Brazil
- Pernambuco, Brazil
- Sao Paulo City, Brazil
- Nariño, Colombia