Andean Carbon and Water Footprint Project has its first meeting in Quito

(Quito, June 26, 2013).-To help spearhead the Carbon and Water Footprint  Project for the Andean Cities of Quito, La Paz and Lima, the initiative's executive committee convened for the first time in Quito on June 26 to discuss action plans and make recommendations to ensure future success. 

The meeting saw participation from CAF representatives in Ecuador, Bolivia and Peru as well as others from the Quito-based Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano (FFLA) and Servicios Ambientales (SASA) from La Paz, the latter two organizations acting as representatives from their respective municipal governments. 

This first meeting of the Executive Committee served as one of many that will draft action plans to guarantee sustainable use of resources and allow municipal governments to take charge of implementing strategies to address climate change issues in a more effective manner. 

These three Andean cities in particular are witnessing firsthand the grave consequences that climate change brings to society, particularly among the poorest and in the more marginal communities. Furthermore, greenhouse gases stemming from activities such as industries, traffic, water treatment, sanitation and solid waste are contributing to the problem. 

Studies have shown that due to climate change, the availability of water resources in La Paz, Quito and Lima are shrinking due to the melting of Andean glaciers. According to some projections, by the year 2025 climate change could limit access to water supplies for 70 percent of those who rely on hydrological resources in the Andean region, a situation made worse from a steady flow of urban migration that increases demand for water. 

To combat this problem, the project was born to support and implement local strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change in the cities of La Paz, Lima and Quito by assessing both carbon and water footprints at local levels and later use study findings to promote actions to reduce carbon emissions and promote better use of resources at the municipal level. The project also aims to facilitate the share of knowledge and the promotion of partnerships among key stakeholders from the public and private sectors and society as a whole.