Asunción, Green City of the Americas, Pathways to Sustainability Plan

https://www.undp.org/es/paraguay/projects/

The "Asunción, Green City of the Americas" Plan developed for the Asunción Metropolitan Area is an initiative promoted by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES), together with UNDP, the Municipality of Asunción, the Ministry of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), the Technical Secretariat of Planning (STP), the National Emergency Secretariat (SEN), the Paraguayan Network of Sustainable Cities and Guyra Paraguay. This is a sectoral planning instrument framed within the development and growth of the City of Asunción, it is expected to obtain cumulative global environmental benefits of 1,227,442 tCO2e of mitigated and sequestered emissions through transport-oriented development, green infrastructure and the implementation of the solid waste management policy, in addition to reducing TEQ emissions of unintentional POPs. According to UNDP, the plan is being executed under the supervision and leadership of the Ministry of the Environment, and the expected results are aimed at improving urban planning, taking into account environmental sustainability indicators in Asunción and its Metropolitan Area. To this end, actions are aimed at reducing emissions from the public transportation sector in the Metropolitan Area, promoting bike paths and generating options for the conversion of the bus fleet. Additionally, a green belt will be created in the metropolitan area with the purpose of reforesting five native species and consolidating the green areas already existing or to be created in the urban area.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Legislative, regulatory and strategic instruments›Sectoral strategy, plan, or law

Challenges addressed

Ecologic connectivity
Soil quality
Water management (e.g. reuse)
Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Watershed restoration/water quality
Drought and fire risk
Flood risk: pluvial and fluvial / soil permeability
Social cohesion
Social equity
Nature appropriation / stewardship
Human health, comfort and well-being

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

The SbN are related to the creation of a green belt for the AMA that will help restore the ecosystem through the consolidation of green areas already existing or to be created in the urban area, as well as the afforestation of five native plant species; additionally, the reduction of emissions from public transportation and the management of urban solid waste with recycling and waste reduction criteria will generate a positive impact on the urban environment.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Green areas for water management

Derelict areas

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Good practice characteristics:

Effective

Sustainable in the long-term

Locally appropriate

Multifunctional NBS support

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES)

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The implementation of this project is led by MADES in coordination with the Municipality of Asunción, the Ministry of Public Works and Communications, the Technical Secretariat of Planning, the National Emergency Secretariat and NGOs (Guyra Paraguay and the Network for Sustainable Cities), with the support of UNDP.

Involvement of non-governmental actors:

Private sector, corporate, business

Researchers, university

Citizens or community groups / NGOs

Type of actor involvement:

Expert task force consultation

Civil society consultation through e.g. workshops, surveys, etc.

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

Citizen participation will be ensured through the Asunción Sustainable Development Council. The plan will support the functioning of the Asunción Development Council as an instance of inter-institutional and multi-stakeholder dialogue and action, with emphasis on civil society and the private sector; this council will constitute the mechanism for convening and coordinating the public and private sectors and civil society in matters of urban sustainability and will be integrated into the structure of the IAPA.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Citizen councils or consultation for co-planning (e.g. workshops, surveys)

Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory role)

Implementation of NBS (e.g. with government funds)

Targeted actors:

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Private: household, real estate developer, business , financial

Researchers, university

Citizens or community groups (CBOs), NGOs, NGOs, etc.

Financing

GEF grant of US$ 7,493,120 and US$ 240,340,000 in co-financing

Budget:

Above 10 000 000€

Details about instrument financing:

The total cost of the Project amounts to USD 247,833,120. This cost is financed through a GEF grant of USD 7,493,120 and USD 240,340,000 in co-financing. GEF grant of USD 7,493,120 and USD 240,340,000 in co-financing. UNDP, as the GEF implementing agency of the GEF, is responsible for the execution of the GEF resources and only for the cash co-financing transferred from the GEF. cash co-financing transferred to the UNDP bank account.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Is a monitoring framework in place?:

Yes

Monitoring and evaluation at the project level will be conducted in accordance with UNDP requirements as outlined in the UNDP Operations and Programme Policies and Procedures and the UNDP Evaluation Policy. Knowledge management and monitoring and evaluation, the project monitoring and evaluation plan will also facilitate learning and ensure knowledge sharing and its wide dissemination aimed at supporting the scaling up and replication of project results.

Did an evaluation take place?:

Yes

A final independent evaluation will be carried out at the end of the main activities and results of the project. activities and results of the project. The final evaluation process will begin three months prior to the operational closure of the project, thus allowing the evaluation operational closure of the project, thus allowing the evaluation mission to work while the project team is still active, while ensuring that the project is sufficiently close to while the project team is still active, while ensuring that the project is sufficiently close to completion for the evaluation team to close enough to completion for the evaluation team to reach conclusions on key issues such as the project's as the sustainability of the project

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

Cumulative global environmental benefits of 1,227,442 tCO2e of mitigated and sequestered emissions are expected to be achieved through transportation-oriented development, green infrastructure and implementation of the solid waste management policy, as well as reducing TEQ emissions of unintentional POPs through a waste and chemical management system and reforestation of 5 flagship forest species. Which will bring additional results linked to: Improvement of the population's quality of life thanks to the reduction of emissions. Biodiversity conservation and protection. Risk management through reforestation of forested areas. Mitigation of the effects of high temperatures. Erosion protection as a result of reforestation. Increased accessibility of urban green spaces. Improved sustainable urbanization. Benefits SbN: Improvement, protection and restoration of vacant areas. Reduction of areas with solid waste. Reduction of emissions from transportation fleets. Contribution to climate change mitigation. Restoration of green areas in the city. Increased interactions and exchange of ideas among citizens. Mitigation of the adverse effects of climate change. Increase and adaptation of sustainable urban furniture. Adaptation of green infrastructure in the city. Development of a sense of community ownership. Community learning on climate change and SBN. Improved infrastructure connectivity and functionality.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The application of sustainable urban planning improves environmental sustainability indicators, and the use of green areas and natural spaces in the city represent an important opportunity for recreation and raising awareness about climate change and the BNS. The creation of bike paths favors the improvement of urban mobility as well as the reduction of polluting emissions, solid waste management and awareness campaigns improve the management and reuse of solid waste, bringing benefits to the community and the environment. The proposed green belt favors the enjoyment of green public spaces and will improve the health and quality of life of the population. Access to financing must be maintained and improved in order to expand and guarantee the continuity of the project, and territorial development must be given a comprehensive approach to promote the functioning and growth of local economies.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Atlas of the Metropolitan Area of Asunción (2021), STP/MADES/UNDP/GEF. Project "Asunción Green City of the Americas - Pathways to Sustainability". Asunción, Paraguay. KLEINPENNING, J. (2011). Paraguay 1515-1870: a thematic geography of its development. Asunción:Editorial Tiempo de Historia. https://www.undp.org/sites/g/files/ https://www.undp.org/es/paraguay/projects/asunci%C3%B3n-ciudad-verde-de-las-am%C3%A9ricas-v%C3%ADas-la-sustentabilidad

Photos

https://www.undp.org/es/paraguay/projects/