In May RCC Panama had the opportunity to exchange words with Patricio Lombardi, Climate Change Minister of Misiones Province in Argentina, first of its kind in the Latin American region. The dialogue revolved around the potential of working for climate action at the sub-regional level and regional critical elements of COP26. Learn about the development of such Ministry and their mission requested by the Pope in the inspiring dialogue below. The conversation has been translated and edited for clarity.   

RCC Panama: Please share with our subscribers, what does the role of Climate Change Minister mean?

Being the first Minister of Climate Change in Latin America is a huge responsibility. I represent an Argentinian province leading in environmental matters, placing at the top of its governmental agenda a special state policy to address the climate issue. This action made us pioneers, redoubling our responsibility when his Holiness, Pope Francis, requested to spread our message and extend the initiative to other jurisdictions. The happiness of the Pope was such that that the request was made through a handwritten letter. The holistic and cross-sectoral approach to the situation faced by climate change and the nature-based solutions valuing ecosystem services, are the most significant marks that I assume as minister.

RCC Panama: How does a subnational minister of climate change support the implementation of the Paris Agreement for Argentina?

Misiones, as a subnational state, leads studies on greenhouse gas emissions and bring forward adaptation and mitigation plans with technical support from UNDP. In addition, we created the Provincial Cabinet of Climate Change, in accordance with the National Cabinet. With these actions we show Argentina and the world that, from this small great province, we take the Paris Agreement very seriously and how committed we are. We provide comprehensive and concrete support to the NDCs in Argentina.

RCC Panama:  Could you share any successful initiative that has been implemented to promote climate action for the Misiones province?

The province of Misiones has a very rich history in positive climate actions and a firm decision to promote these at the local, national, regional and international levels. This province conserves 52% of the biodiversity of Argentina, more than 50% of our surface constitutes forests.

We are aligned, encompassed and likewise encouraged by the statements of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterrez, on the vitality of protecting the Atlantic Forest, a global biodiversity hotspot. Misiones strongly guards the last continuous remainder of jungle (Corredor Verde) in this biome as the Atlantic Forest is the most important biome in Latin America after the Amazon.

Misiones promotes climate action from a comprehensive vision, in 2015 the Ministry of Family Farming was created, the first in Latin America, with the aim of promoting rural agroecology with a gender perspective.

In the last two decades we have managed to completely stop the rate of deforestation and thus, we conserve the last vestige of continuous forest in the Atlantic Forest (where more than 90% is cut down). This enables, along with other policies of the provincial state and collaboration with the civil society, the doubling of the jaguar population in freedom. Our efforts and climate positive practices are recognized by prestigious international NGOs, such as the WWF.

The innovative and pioneering decision to establish the Ministry of Climate Change was celebrated and taken as an example by several internationally respected institutions:

- The Lancet invited us to inaugurate its Argentine chapter on health and climate change.

- UNDP invited us to present at the XXII Forum of Ministers of the Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean where I was the only representative of a sub-national state with an active role.

- The Vatican congratulated the province for the establishment of this Ministry and requested through Pope Francis to extend this imprint to other jurisdictions.

- The Governors' Summit of ZICOSUR (Integrated Zone on the Centre West of South America) elected us to chair the Commission on Environment and Climate Change. This organization brings together 7 countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay) and 71 subnational states.

RCC Panama: Lastly, in your opinion, what are the most important elements for the region that must come together to achieve a successful COP26?

The role of sub-national states is and will be vital to undertake and ensure the success of positive climate actions. The causes and effects of global warming occur in its territory. We need to promote governance systems and international cooperation to leverage the voice of sub-national states at the multilateral level.

The valuation of environmental and ecosystem services is vital. The region understood that nature-based solutions are the core solutions of the issue. Today the discussion of forests as carbon sinks has been overcome, however, a lack of international understanding persists in the financial assistance procedures that hinder and postpone the fulfillment of the commitments made through the Paris Agreement. The forests of our region are the natural allies that are still waiting to be valued as such.

Thank you Minister Lombardi for your time and role in supporting the climate action in Latin America!