PACC Peru: 8 years contribution to climate change management
After 8 years contributing to climate change management at national, regional and local level, the Program for Adaptation to Climate Change – PACC Peru closed its activities. Closing ceremonies were held in Apurímac and Cuzco on December 1 and 2, respectively, with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of the Environment, Swiss Cooperation – COSUDE, regional and local governments, academia, the Haku Wiñay Program, FONCODES, HELVETAS, Swiss Intercooperation, Yachachiq, community leaders and local partners.
Under the slogan “Altitude/Attitude/Aptitude: the rebirth of the Andes”, the events highlighted the recovery, revaluation and promotion of ancestral practices to adapt to climate change. An example of it is the sowing and harvesting of water that the PACC successfully promoted through the expansion and improvement of rustic ponds (qochas) as a strategy for recharging aquifers to ensure water availability in the middle and lower parts of the basins.
One of the most touching moments of the events was the segment “Talks with the children of the rain, the lagoons and the mountains”, where authorities, Yachachiq and peasant families, users of the Haku Wiñay Program, shared their testimonies about the contribution of PACC to the strengthening of local capacities, which contributed to the sustainable improvement of their living conditions within the context of climate change. Videos with testimonies of different actors were also shared. Before closing the event, a photograph catalog was distributed with emblematic pictures of the Program.
The external review of the PACC Peru project has shown its high effectiveness to achieve its objectives concerning regional institutional structure, adaptation to climate change in poverty alleviation programs for rural areas, and strengthening of local capacities to promote applied research.
After 8 uninterrupted years of collaboration with partners in Peru, the regional and national institutional structure has the capacities for this vital experience to continue, and for climate change management to consolidate as a basic condition for sustainable development. This experience, highly relevant for Peru and Latin America, represents a key asset for the Multisector Work Group chaired by the President of Peru (set up in February, 2017). This group is responsible for implementing the Nationally-determined Contributions, a commitment Peru has made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by the year 2030, and to prepare ourselves for the adverse weather effects in five areas: Water, Agriculture, Fishing and Aquaculture, Health and Forests.
The Program for Adaptation to Climate Change PACC PERU was a Swiss-Peruvian bilateral cooperation initiative launched by the Ministry of the Environment and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation – COSUDE, implemented by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation. Its efforts sought to achieve sustainable development and reduce vulnerability to climate change among rural populations, as a direct step in fighting poverty.
The below images show the closing ceremonies of the PACC Peru Project in Abancay and Cuzco:
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| See image gallery | See image gallery |
We share with you testimonies of the actors themselves:
Relevant links:
Project PACC PERÚ, Project Sheet,Swiss Embassy / Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation COSUDE
Web Program for Adaptation to Climate Change – PACC
