Latin America and the Caribbean with Team Europe: Towards a Just and Green Transition

 

Following the launch of a BMZ paper on cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean by Federal Minister Svenja Schulze in Berlin, the GIZ Representation Brussels co-organised a high-ranking panel discussion on shaping development with the region.

On 12 July, the GIZ Representation Brussels co-organised a high-ranking panel discussion on “Latin America and the Caribbean with Team Europe: Working better together towards a Just and Green Transition” following the launch of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) paper on shaping development with Latin America and the Caribbean.

The EU-CELAC Summit on 17-18 July concluded with a joint declaration and offered new momentum for Team Europe and Latin America and Caribbean partner countries (LAC) to discuss how European and bilateral approaches can be brought closer together on their joint path towards a socially just and green transition. In view of the summit, and to strengthen the strategic ties between the LAC region and Team Europe, the EU has recently published a new agenda for bi-regional relations.

Federal Minister Schulze calls for close and strategic cooperation with the LAC region

In the run-up to the summit, Federal Minister Svenja Schulze launched the new BMZ position paper on cooperation with the LAC region in Berlin. She was accompanied by Brazilian ambassador and representative of Latin America in Berlin, Roberto Jaguaribe. Ms. Schulze stressed that in an increasingly multipolar world working closer and strategically together with the LAC region is the only way to address global challenges such as climate change more effectively.

To discuss the paper’s objectives in practice, the launch was directly followed by a high-level panel discussion at the GIZ Representation in Brussels, organised by Euroclima, a regional programme for effective climate policy and transformative change co-funded by the EU and BMZ and implemented by GIZ. The Brussels event was also supported by the GIZ Sector Programme EU Development Policy. The panel comprised:

  • Félix Fernández-Shaw, Director of Latin America & the Caribbean; Relations with Overseas countries & territories at the European Commission’s DG INTPA
  • Volker Oel, Director for Latin America; Middle East/MENA; South-Eastern and Eastern Europe at BMZ
  • Álvaro de Torres Suárez, Deputy Director General for Planning and Policy Coherence in Brussels on behalf of Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAUC)
  • Sebastián Carranza, Director of Climate Change and Risk Management at the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development
  • Laura Señán from the Strategic Alliances Unit at Fundación Avina

Euroclima as a successful example of joint efforts for a green and just transition

The panellists discussed with moderator Andrea von Rauch, Director of the GIZ Representation Brussels, how LAC countries can be better supported to achieve a just and green transition. Asked about what is new about the BMZ approach, Mr. Oel highlighted that the ‘previous focus was more on renewing global public goods…while this integrated approach focuses on linking climate and biodiversity protection to its social dimensions.’ Ms. von Rauch also referred to the Euroclima programme as a successful example for implementing joint initiatives with integrated and crosscutting approaches. Mr. Fernández-Shaw highlighted Euroclima’s positive work in bringing together stakeholders in a ‘town-hall approach’, which led to LAC countries seeing the programme as a key vehicle to offer a platform for learning and exchange challenges and opportunities to support the green and just transition.

Panellists demand better involvement of local stakeholders and recognition of local agendas and priorities

Mr. Carranza sees the fair and inclusive support of populations that are highly vulnerable to climate change and the recognition of the diverse parallel transitions happening in LAC countries as key drivers of change in the bi-regional cooperation. According to Mr. Carranza, ‘local stakeholders, notably civil society, and indigenous people, need to be better involved throughout decision-making processes’ and not only in the implementation phase. This argument was supported by Ms. Señan. For her, the renewed partnership should focus on up-lifting the existing local capacities in green sectors rather than enforcing new regulations and strategies – because “local civil society in LAC knows very well how to build multistakeholder partnerships”.

Ms. von Rauch added that the EU-CELAC Summit offers great momentum to discuss the future cooperation between the EU and LAC in a more equal manner. This was also underlined by Mr de Torres, who called on EU leaders to be in ‘listening mode’ at the summit. In this regard, Mr. Fernández-Shaw said the EU will have to acknowledge LAC’s role as a partner on equal footing when it comes to promoting a just and green transition, having been the key driver in the establishment of the SDGs and being at the forefront of the fight against climate change. The region has its own agenda, the capacities and technological drive to go green. Team Europe will have to provide support through capital and investment in a mutually beneficial approach. To sum up, Mr. Fernández-Shaw highlighted that ‘If Latin America and the Caribbean stopped embracing the green transition, the world would be lost.’

After the panel discussion over 60 guests from the EU Institutions, Latin American and Caribbean Embassies, Think Tanks and NGOs, peer Member States Organisations, the UN family and the private sector had the opportunity to take part in a networking reception.