Climate Governance in Action: The Mendoza City Model

Mendoza, Argentina, stands out as one of the country’s pioneers in climate governance and integrated local planning. Through its Local Climate Action Plan (PLAC) and the Municipal Committee on Climate Change (CMCC), the city has transformed climate policy into an institutional framework for sustainable urban development. Declared under a municipal Climate Emergency in 2020, Mendoza now coordinates multisectoral mitigation and adaptation actions toward a 2030 low-carbon target and 2050 carbon neutrality.

Implementation in Mendoza follows a structured, multi-tiered approach that combines governance reform, integrated planning, and concrete local action:

1. Governance and Institutional Design

• Creation of the Municipal Committee on Climate Change  (CMCC) as a permanent advisory and coordination body including academia, business, and civil society.
• Formation of the Climate Change Department to mainstream mitigation and adaptation across all municipal departments.
• Incorporation of climate indicators and SDG alignment into municipal budgeting and reporting.

2. Planning and Monitoring

• Development of the Local Climate Action Plan PLAC 2020 and its 2023 Update, aligned with Argentina’s NDC and GCoM standards.
• Ten municipal GHG inventories (2014-2023) and open publication of data through the Climate Geoportal
• Integration of gender equality, education, and economic analysis across programs.

3. Action on the Ground

• GEF 7 Program: Focused on renewable energy, sustainable mobility, biodiversity, and circular economy.
• UNEP Urban Ecosystem Restoration Pilot: 0.24ha of foothill rehabilitation with native vegetation.
• Green Fund for Environmental Sustainability (FOVE): Local fund for small-scale community adaptation projects.
• Air Quality and Waste Management Programs: New monitoring network with CONICET–UTN and partnerships with hotels and restaurants for composting.
• Education and Citizen Engagement: Environmental Guardians, Sustainable Schools, and climate youth forums.
• Regular CMCC meetings with special working groups on Air Quality, Urban Planning, and Environmental Regulations.

Strong partnerships ensure continuity and impact:

• National: Secretariat for Tourism, Environment and Sports, Ministry of Energy and Environment.    
• International: GEF, PNUMA, RAMCC, CIDEU, SEGIB, Bloomberg Philanthropies.
• Academic: CONICET, UTN, Universidad Juan A. Maza, FLACSO, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo
• Private & Civil Society: hotel and gastronomy associations, Holcim 

Mendoza prioritizes communication to make climate action visible and inclusive:

• Annual Climate Perception Survey to assess citizen attitudes and awareness.
• Climate Youth’s Forum and Sustainable Schools to involve young people.
• Citywide campaigns to reduce single-use plastics and restore native biodiversity.
• Geoportal and Open Data Portal for transparent access to plans, progress, and indicators.

Mendoza combines international, national, and local resources to sustain its actions:

• USD 6.5 million from GEF 7 and UNEP for integrated mitigation and adaptation projects.
• Green Fund for Environmental Sustainability (FOVE) (since 2020) for local green infrastructure and ecosystem projects.
• Climate Budget Tagging to identify and prioritize climate-related municipal spending.
• Public-Private Partnerships in energy efficiency, waste, and urban greening.

Mendoza’s governance reforms and investments have produced measurable and lasting outcomes:

• Institutionalized climate action across all city departments through CMCC and Climate Change Department    
• Over 5,000 tons CO₂e avoided per year through renewable energy, mobility, and efficiency measures.
• 0.24ha of degraded ecosystems restored, increasing biodiversity and carbon sequestration capacity.
• Integration of climate indicators into urban planning instruments.
• 25% increase in citizen awareness and participation between 2020-2023.
• Recognition by RAMCC as a model city for local climate governance in Argentina.

Despite progress, Mendoza faces several ongoing challenges:

• Limited long-term financing for adaptation infrastructure.
• Coordination across the wider metropolitan region. 

Mendoza’s experience provides a replicable model for mid-sized Latin American cities aiming to institutionalize climate action:

• Establish multi-stakeholder climate committees for sustained governance.
• Embed climate goals in city budgets and development plans.
• Combine international finance with local funds for continuity.
• Engage communities through transparency, education, and youth participation.

In conclusion, Mendoza has turned a climate emergency into a long-term governance innovation. By embedding climate considerations into every municipal policy, mobilizing citizens, and measuring results, the city is not only mitigating emissions but redefining what local climate leadership can look like across the region.

• PLAC 2023 – Local Climate Action Plan
• Summary of the PLAC 2023
• RAMCC – Argentinian Network of Municipalities for Climate Change
• Climate Management – Municipality of Mendoza 

Silvina Lopez
Environmental Planning and Management Coordinator
Municipality of Mendoza
ambienteciudadmendoza@gmail.com