Territorial climate policy
Introduction
The National Climate Change Policy is a public policy document presented in 2017 at the national level and describes the way to face the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities that climate change entails for the Colombian country.
Importance
In mid-2017, the Colombian government presented the national climate change policy. At the time, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Luis Gilberto Murillo, pointed out the importance of this policy in the face of the country's vulnerability to the possible challenges and changes generated in the biosphere by the increase in global warming. Institutions such as IDEAM and the IPCC identify Colombia as one of the countries highly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change and variability.[1].
Goals
The central purpose of this public policy is to include climate change management in the country's public and private decisions and thus advance on a low-carbon, climate-resilient path that reduces the risks of climate change and allows taking advantage of the opportunities that climate change generates.[2].
The four specific objectives of the policy are:[3].
This document sets two goals to ratify the international commitments made, known as NDC within the framework of the Paris Agreements in 2015. The first is the gradual decrease in GHG emissions by at least 20 percent, or 30 percent, if international support is obtained by the year 2030.[4] It is estimated that the reduction will be in the range of 234 to 268 megatons of GHG, including all sectors and all national broadcast sources.[5].
The second goal is stated in the document, but is not described, or specified in a measurable indicator. This goal refers to the level of adaptation to climate change verifiable through a monitoring and evaluation system and for which the Intersectoral Commission on Climate Change (CICC) is responsible.[2].
Background
In 2012, Colombia had published two related public policy documents, the National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change and the National Policy for Disaster Risk Management, which aimed to increase the capacity to adapt and offer protection to the population in Colombian territory and contribute to an increase in the quality of life and sustainable development.[6][1].