Colombia

Colombia adopted the UNFCCC in 1994 and approved the Kyoto Protocol in 2000. The second National Communication, submitted to the UNFCCC in 2010, presented the national inventory of GHGs for 2000 and 2004. The sectors that caused most GHGs in 2004 were: land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) 14.5%; agriculture 38%; energy 37%; solid waste 6%; and industrial processes 5%. When the total emissions of agriculture are added to those of LULUCF, activities within this sector account for around 80% of total emissions in 2000 and 2004.

One of the first policies addressing climate change was the Guidelines for Climate Change Policy, issued in 2002 by the then Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development and the National Planning Department (NPD). These guidelines described the implications of climate change and presented strategies that the country should follow in order to comply with the international obligations derived from the UNFCCC. In the same year the Colombian Office for Climate Change Mitigation was set up as the body in charge of promoting CDM projects.

Recent climate policy has been defined by the National Economic and Social Policy Council (CONPES). CONPES is responsible for developing the climate change components of the National Development Plans into policy documents. CONPES 3700, of 2011, defined the need of an institutional framework for climate change. It also established the National System of Climate Change (SISCLIMA) as the institution in charge of co-ordinating and promoting climate change action and policy. Since the document was drafted, the Government has been preparing a Presidential Decree by which the System will be formally created. Once this process is finalised, SISCLIMA will co-ordinate the implementation of the four climate change priority strategies defined by the government: the Climate Change National Adaptation Plan (CCNAP); the Colombian Low Carbon Development Strategy (CLCDS); the National REDD+ Strategy (ENREDD+); and the Strategy for Fiscal Protection Against Natural Disasters.

Although SISCLIMA has not yet been officially formalised, the members of its financial council have been meeting regularly since 2013 in order to identify the challenges and opportunities in climate change project financing. The National Planning Department, as the Secretariat, with support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been leading this process and inviting institutions to become members.

Colombia has been successful in leveraging funds under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and the government has tried to establish a system of payment for environmental services for climate change mitigation through the CDM. The 1995 National Biodiversity Policy introduced the concept of environmental services and biodiversity risk owing to climate change. In 2011 a new biodiversity policy was formulated to comply with recent international commitments and new climate change adaptation policy. In 2003, CONPES introduced the national strategy of payment for environmental services (PES) for climate change mitigation through the CDM.

The Colombian Low-Carbon Development Strategy was launched in 2012 as a tool to deliver the objectives of the National Development Plan 2010–2014 and the CONPES Document on Climate Change by promoting efficient low-carbon growth. It foresees the identification of a GHG emissions baseline and the formulation and implementation of low-carbon development plans (Mitigation Action Plans) for energy, hydrocarbons, mining, agriculture, transportation, industry, waste and housing. On the basis of these results, appropriate policies, NAMAs and projects are being implemented. With the support of the EU, the UK and the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, UNDP will contribute to the implementation of the strategy by providing information for the development of emissions baselines and cost-effective sectoral action plans and public policies. It will also strengthen the capacity of ministries to integrate low-carbon aspects into their activities. In addition, USAID will continue supporting the Colombian Low-Carbon Development Strategy with institutional strengthening through experts serving as focal point in the ministries.

Following the recent presidential election, a new National Development Plan for 2014-2018 is being prepared, with peace, social equality and education set as the new national priorities. Climate change is expected to be present in this plan, allowing for a move away from the design of strategies and plans towards implementation and mainstreaming of climate change action.

Energy supply

Colombia’s power sector relies heavily on installed, large capacity hydropower units. The installed power mix is 64% hydro, 31% natural gas and coal, and 5% other sources and cogeneration. This structure results in a low carbon footprint, among the lowest in the region.

The Ministry of Mines and Energy is playing an active role in establishing renewable energy policies. Aiming to diversify the national energy system, the government is promoting the use of ‘non-conventional renewable energy sources’ (FNCER). Regulatory agencies are defining and creating regulations for the integration of FNCER regulations. FNCER, as outlined in the law, are “energy sources available worldwide that are environmentally sustainable, but in the country are not used, or are used marginally and not widely commercialised”.

The law details measures that the government will take to foster the development of energy generated from forestry and agricultural biomass, and solid waste; reforestation activities; and solar, wave, wind, small hydroelectric and geothermal energy. The Law establishes the legal framework and identifies the instruments to promote the use of non-conventional energy sources, particularly renewable sources, and to foster investment and research in, as well as development of clean technologies. The law points to courses of action Colombia may take to comply with international commitments it has undertaken in the areas of renewable energy, efficient energy management and GHG emission reductions, as contemplated under the Colombian law that adopts the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) statute.

In the Cancun Agreements, Colombia committed to no less than 77% of the total installed capacity of electrical energy generation coming from renewable sources by 2020. It also committed to promote production growth of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel – without threatening forest ecosystems and food security – by strengthening national market participation and by ensuring a minimum mandatory 20% biofuel mixture of total fuel volume.

Energy demand

Colombia is not one of the world’s leading energy producers, but it is a net energy exporter. Demand for energy has been increasing over the past decade and is expected to grow at an average of about 3.5% per year through 2020. The difference between its energy production and consumption has been due mostly to oil and large coal exports. The country is a modest energy user and CO₂ emitter. The power sector already has a very low carbon footprint.

In past years Colombia has achieved significant advances in energy demand, recognising the need to increase energy efficiency especially in the power, industrial, residential and transport sectors. The Programme for the Rational and Efficient Use of Energy and Other Non-Conventional Energy Forms (PROURE) promotes the rational and efficient use of energy and alternative energy sources. There is also a law to promote efficient energy management, prescribing actions in both energy efficiency and demand-response. It also seeks to establish a Fund for Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency (FENOGE) to finance renewable energy projects such as building small-scale self-generation and promoting practices for best efficiency.

Based on PROURE, industrial sector has the following sub-programmes: optimisation of electricity use for the driving force; optimisation of boiler use; efficiency in illumination; energy management in the industry with an emphasis on cleaner production; cogeneration and auto-generation; rational use and energy efficiency in small and medium enterprises (SMEs); optimisation of combustion process; and optimisation of the cold chain. For 2015 the energy saving goals for industrial sector are: electricity 3.43% and other energy sources 0.25%. For commercial and service sectors, the PROURE programme determined programmes on diffusion, promotion and application of technologies and good practices in illumination systems, refrigeration and air-conditioning; design, construction, energy reconversion, and efficient and sustainable use of building; characterisation, indicator management and technical assistance; and updating or technological conversion of public lighting.

The UNDP is supporting a project (2011-2016) to accelerate the adoption and implementation of energy efficiency standards and labels throughout the Andean region. It will also facilitate harmonisation of test procedures, standards and labels among participating countries. The project aims to reduce total residential and commercial final energy consumption by an average of 5%, resulting in a similar reduction of carbon emissions by the year 2030 and ensuring more environmentally sustainable and economically efficient development.

REDD+ and LULUCF

Colombia is one of the world’s megadiverse countries, hosting close to 14% of the planet’s biodiversity. In 2008 it signed up to the “zero deforestation in the Amazon by 2020” pledge and began working on REDD+ in 2009. Since then, Colombia has been active in the UNFCCC REDD+ negotiations where it supports market-based mechanisms and has been a proponent of the idea that REDD+ should accommodate a sub-national approach. It became a member of the advisory committee of the Jurisdictional and Nested Requirements (JNR) working group of the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS), of the World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF), and since 2013 has been a partner country of the UN-REDD+.

Colombia’s Readiness Plan Idea Note (R-PIN) was accepted by the FCPF in 2008 and USD200,000 disbursed to help it prepare its Readiness Preparation Proposal (R-PP). In 2011, the FCPF Participants Committee and Technical Assessment Panel approved its fifth R-PP, authorising a grant of a further USD3.4m for readiness preparation. Colombia subsequently adapted its R-PP using the harmonised FCPF/UN-REDD framework.

With the support of GIZ, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADS) is working on the draft and implementing its national REDD+ strategy. In the meantime, Colombia is taking a staggered approach to REDD+ readiness, prioritising the Amazon and Pacific regions, which together account for 75% of Colombia’s forest. There are more than 50 REDD+ initiatives, one of which (the Chocó-Darien Conservation Corridor) is already producing credits in the voluntary market. In the Cancun Agreements, Colombia committed to reduce Amazon deforestation to zero by 2020.

Adaptation

Climate risk prevention has become increasingly important. This has been strongly influenced by the impacts of La Niña, a hydro-climatic event that in 2010-2011 affected more than 3.2m people and was responsible for considerable asset losses. This catastrophe highlighted the impact climate change events could inflict on the country and their threat to the achievement of economic growth and competitiveness objectives.

The most recent climate risk assessment took place in 2010 under the Second National Communication on Climate Change. During 2015 a new assessment will be performed as part of the Third National Communication on Climate Change. However some regions and sectors have undertaken vulnerability analysis to identify the most vulnerable areas and prioritise adaptation measures. Colombia has made progress in formulating climate change adaptation plans at a regional and at a sectorial level.

The current National Development Plan (2010-2014) includes elements of sustainable economic growth, environmental sustainability and risk prevention. It identifies conflicting sectors such as mining, agriculture, housing and infrastructure, and it links climate change adaptation to development goals.

The National Plan for Climate Change Adaptation (PNACC) was launched in 2012. Its objectives are to increase knowledge of the potential risks and opportunities associated with climate change and climate variability, to incorporate climate risk management in territorial and sectoral planning and to mitigate the climate change vulnerability of ecological and socio-economic systems. This is an initiative led by the National Planning Department, with the support of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies, and the National Disaster Risk Management Unit, with the participation of the productive sectors and the territorial stakeholders. The Plan will set the conceptual bases and methodologies for each sector and territory to identify their risk, prioritise actions and formulate their own sectoral or territorial adaptation plan. Five documents have been written under the PNACC: the Adaptation Conceptual Bases (ABC), the Roadmap for the formulation of territorial and sectoral plans, Guidelines for Community based Adaptation, Guidelines for mainstreaming climate change into land planning instruments (currently under elaboration), and the Roadmap to incorporate climate change into environmental licences (currently under revision).

In addition, sectoral adaptation plans and strategies are being developed, such as the “Agricultural Sector Climate Phenomena Adaptation Strategy”; the “Study to determine Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation options for Colombia´s (hydroelectric) Energy Sector”; and the “Long-term Climate Change Vision for Sustainable Transport and Infrastructure” and “National Road Network Climate Change Adaptation Plan”.