Participatory and Transparent Climate Action: 4th Climate Action Plan (CAP) of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires (ARBA0008)

Commitment ID

ARBA0008

Commitment Title

Participatory and Transparent Climate Action: 4th Climate Action Plan (CAP) of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires

Problem

The Autonomous City of Buenos Aires faces increasingly severe challenges from climate change, such as more frequent heatwaves, extreme rainfall, and the spread of disease vectors (like dengue), which impact public health, infrastructure, and urban biodiversity. Added to this are local challenges such as waste management, air quality, and the shortage of green spaces. Although they occupy only 3% of the Earth’s surface, cities account for 80% of global energy consumption and generate nearly 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. In large urban centers like the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, it is becoming increasingly necessary to address issues related to transportation, urbanization, and the use of public space.

Status quo

Law 3,871 on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation establishes that a Climate Action Plan must be created, coordinated, and updated every five years. The latest CAP (2021–2025) promoted the expansion of green spaces, the use of non-motorized transport, the reduction of pollutant emissions, the promotion of environmental education, and the integration of all neighborhoods, among other goals.

In this context, through the Climate Democracy Accelerator program by the organization, the City is fostering collaboration with residents from different neighborhoods, identifying local environmental challenges and possible solutions.

In addition, since 2020, the platform “BA Climate Change” has been publicly available: an initiative that combines environmental data transparency with civic engagement to encourage collective citizen action and a cultural shift toward climate change mitigation. The website is the result of a co-creation process involving experts, CSOs, and residents.

Action

This proposal aims to strengthen citizen participation and access to climate information through engagement in the CAP and the update of the BA Climate Change Platform. To achieve this, the plan includes developing participatory strategies to reinforce the 4th Climate Action Plan through working tables involving various stakeholders, such as government representatives, academia, specialized civil society organizations, and the general public. It also includes participatory activities with primary and secondary school students.

In addition, the proposal seeks to update the BA Climate Change Platform, improve its user experience and navigation, and update climate change-related databases for the City.

How will the commitment contribute to solving the public problem described above?

This commitment aims to promote an informed public regarding climate change data in the City, actively participating in the decision-making processes related to the development of adaptation and mitigation strategies. To achieve this, a territorial approach is proposed—one that prioritizes action based on specific local issues and ensures the city's resilience to climate change.

What long-term goal as identified in your Open Government Strategy does this commitment relate to?

This commitment is aligned with the long-term goal of strengthening public participation and addressing global challenges by tackling climate change through open government strategies. Through participatory processes, it seeks to actively engage the public in defining the priorities and needs of the City’s Fourth Climate Action Plan, promoting more inclusive and informed decision-making to respond to the challenges we face today.

Primary Policy Area

Civic Space, Crisis Response

Primary Sector

Environment & Climate

What OGP value is this commitment relevant to?