End of Commitment Report – The City of Mendoza commits to promote the Climate Change Laboratory.

Name of Evaluator

Maria Candela Grec

Email

grecmariacandela@gmail.com

Member Name

Mendoza, Argentina

Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... Title

Action plan – Mendoza, Argentina, 2021 – 2023

CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action...

The City of Mendoza commits to promoting the Climate Change Laboratory.

Action

The Climate Change Laboratory of the City of Mendoza (CCMZALAB) is the platform for experimentation, design, and innovation for the development of sustainable public policies to provide local solutions of triple impact to the global scourge of climate change. The CCMZALAB aims to generate a space for co-creation, co-design, experimentation, and testing between municipal officials and universities that participate in the Climate Change Committee together with other actors such as businessmen and civil society referents that have an impact on environmental issues, being a key element to generate collaborative responses to current environmental challenges.

Problem

The nature/society relationship is indissoluble. The health of our environments directly conditions the well-being of our societies. Considering that many problems that historically affected our societies were generated by environmental impacts, we understand that one of the best ways to preserve human health is to promote the protection of nature. This is why the paradigm of sustainability is a non-negotiable requirement in current times. The positioning of this concept as a central and transversal policy to all public policies implemented by the municipal government is a strategy to guarantee a sustainable urban development model. From the municipality, we understand the emergency situation linked to climate change, and we express the need to work urgently, immediately, and sustainably on this great challenge that unites us as a society.

1.1 What was the overall level of progress in the commitment implementation at the time of this assessment?

Complete

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

100%. The Climate Change Laboratory of the city of Mendoza set as measurable milestones the creation of a public access repositoryAccess to relevant information is essential for enabling participation and ensuring accountability throughout the OGP process. An OGP repository is an online centralized website, webpage, platform or ... of academic productions on climate change and an expanded citizen participationAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, citizen participation occurs when “governments seek to mobilize citizens to engage in public debate, provide input, and make contributions that lead to m... More roundtable on climate change, both of which were completed within the stipulated timeframe and successfully accomplished for the City.
The Climate Change Laboratory of the City of Mendoza set out to achieve measurable milestones, such as the creation of a Public Access Repository of Academic Productions on Climate Change and an Expanded Roundtable of Citizen Participation on this topic. Both objectives were achieved as planned, meeting the established deadlines and proving to be successful for the city.

Provide evidence that supports and justifies your answer:

• Expanded Citizen Participation Roundtable on Climate Change
• Public Access Repository of Academic Productions Related to Climate Change

1.2 Describe the main external or internal factors that impacted implementation of this commitment and how they were addressed (or not).

These external actors not only played a key role in achieving the objectives but were essential to the overall success of the initiative.

In the case of the creation of the public access repository of academic productions on climate change, the active participation of academia facilitated the collection and contribution of expertise. Civil society, on the other hand, provided a valuable perspective and ensured the relevanceAccording to the OGP Articles of Governance, OGP commitments should include a clear open government lens. Specifically, they should advance at least one of the OGP values: transparency, citizen partic... and accessibility of the information to a wider audience. Both external sectors complemented the capabilities of the Climate Change Laboratory and significantly enriched the content and diversity of the repository.

As for the expanded citizen participation roundtable on climate change, collaboration with civil society was essential to ensure that the voices and concerns of the community were representative. Academia provided technical and scientific expertise, supporting the discussions with solid evidence. Interaction among these external actors was vital to address the multidisciplinary challenges related to climate change and to achieve a holistic approach to decision-making.

In terms of addressing these factors, active participation was encouraged and effective channels of communication were established between the Climate Change Laboratory, civil society, and academia. Regular meetings, forums, and citizen participation events were organized to maintain a continuous dialogue. In addition, mechanisms were implemented to incorporate constant feedback and adjust strategies according to the needs and suggestions received.

1.3 Was the commitment implemented as originally planned?

All of the commitment milestones were implemented as planned.

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

All milestones established in the engagement were executed as planned, meeting the established deadlines and successfully achieving the proposed objectives. The faithful execution of the original plan reflects the commitment and effectiveness of the engagement team in ensuring that each phase of the engagement was carried out consistently and successfully.

2.1.1. – Did the government disclose more information; improve the quality of the information (new or existing); improve the value of the information; improve the channels to disclose or request information or improve accessibility to information?

Yes

Degree of result:

Outstanding

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

Yes, the Climate Change Lab has contributed to open government. The initiative has generated a significant impact on practice and people’s lives by fostering transparencyAccording to OGP’s Articles of Governance, transparency occurs when “government-held information (including on activities and decisions) is open, comprehensive, timely, freely available to the pub... More, citizen participation, and cross-sector collaboration.

This engagement has opened new avenues of communication between government, civil society, and academia. The creation of the Public Access Repository and the Expanded Citizen Participation Roundtable has made information and decisions related to climate change accessible to all. This not only strengthens accountability but also empowers citizens by providing them with a platform to actively contribute to decision-making.

The government’s openness through this engagement is reflected in the inclusionOGP participating governments are working to create governments that truly serve all people. Commitments in this area may address persons with disabilities, women and girls, lesbian, gay, bisexual, tr... More of diverse stakeholders in the climate change conversation. Academia provides expertise, while civil society brings diverse perspectives and first-hand experience. This collaboration has enriched climate change policy and action by incorporating a variety of opinions and approaches.

In addition, the initiative has had a positive impact on society’s environmental awareness. Active participation in the Expanded Roundtable has sensitized the community to the importance of climate change and the need for collective action. This has led to changes in daily practices, such as the adoption of more sustainable behaviors and support for environmental policies.

2.1.2. – Did the government create new opportunities to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation inform or influence decisions; improve existing channels or spaces to seek feedback from citizens/enable participation/ inform or influence decisions; create or improve capabilities in the government or the public aimed to improve how the government seeks feedback from citizens/enables participation/ or allows for the public to inform or influence decisions?

Yes

Degree of result:

Outstanding

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The Climate Change Laboratory has first created new opportunities for citizen feedback by establishing the Expanded Citizen Participation Roundtable. This structure has allowed citizens to express their opinions, concerns, and suggestions on issues related to climate change. Openness to citizen feedback has enriched the decision-making process by incorporating diverse perspectives and experiences, thus promoting more informed and representative decision-making.

Second, the Lab has facilitated citizen participation by establishing direct channels of communication between the government and civil society. Regular meetings, forums, and participation events have provided tangible opportunities for citizens to become actively involved in policy formulation and implementation of climate change-related actions. This active participation strengthens the legitimacy of government decisions by ensuring that the views of those who will be directly affected by them are taken into account.

And finally, this engagement has contributed to improved capacity in both government and the public. The creation of the Public Access Repository has provided a valuable educational tool to the public, improving the overall understanding of climate change. In addition, collaboration with academia has strengthened government capabilities by providing access to scientific expertise and knowledge.

2.1.3 Did the government create or improve channels, opportunities or capabilities to hold officials answerable to their actions?

Not Applicable

Degree of result:

Worsened

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

I believe it does not apply, because the main focus of the Climate Change Lab is on citizen participation, transparency, and collaboration, and not necessarily on internal government accountability.

2.1.4 Other Results

Yes

Degree of result:

Outstanding

Explanation: In narrative form, what has been the impact on people or practice.

The Climate Change Lab has achieved significant social impact by generating increased public awareness of climate change. In addition to the specific milestones mentioned above, the engagement has catalyzed the adoption of more sustainable practices in the community. Active citizen participation has contributed to the formation of a more informed citizenry committed to environmental preservation.

The initiative has sought to inspire individuals and communities to take action at the local level, from more sustainable everyday practices to participation in community initiatives related to climate change. This change in behavior and mindset towards sustainability is a valuable outcome that has extended beyond the Lab’s initial objectives. The connection between citizen participation and concrete action highlights the ability of engagement to influence the public sphere and stimulate positive changes in individual and collective behavior. This additional result underscores the importance of participatory approaches in generating lasting impacts and tangible benefits for society.

2.2 Did the commitment address the public policy problem that it intended to address as described in the action plan?

Yes

Provide a brief explanation of your answer:

Yes, the Climate Change Laboratory’s commitment has effectively addressed the public policy problem initially proposed in the action plan. The creation of the Public Access Repository of Academic Productions on Climate Change and the establishment of the Expanded Roundtable on Citizen Participation have been specific actions designed to address the challenges associated with climate change.

The Public Access Repository addresses the need to consolidate and disseminate academic knowledge on climate change, providing a centralized platform for relevant information. On the other hand, the Expanded Roundtable on Citizen Participation is oriented towards the inclusion of the community in decision-making and policy formulation related to climate change, thus addressing the importance of citizen participation in the construction of effective solutions.

Both initiatives are directly aligned to address climate change from a public policy perspective.

3. Provide at least one lesson or reflection relating to the implementation of this commitment. It can be the identification of key barriers to implementation, an unexpected help/hindrance, recommendations for future commitments, or if the commitment should be taken forward to the next action plan.

A valuable lesson learned from the implementation of the Climate Change Lab commitment is the importance of establishing effective feedback and continuous evaluation mechanisms. While the commitment has made significant progress, the creation of systematized and institutionalized channels for collecting feedback and evaluating effectiveness could further improve participation and the relevance of initiatives.

Recommendations for future engagements could include the implementation of periodic surveys, citizen feedback sessions, and regular evaluations to ensure ongoing alignment with needs and expectations. In addition, transparency in the evaluation process and disclosure of results would further strengthen the trust and legitimacy of actions.