Women for Results

Fostering Cleaner Production

Industrial pollution is a major problem in Colombia. Diverse industries are part of the pollution problem in Valle del Cauca, a region that hosts an important industrial corridor in southwestern Colombia.

The Fostering Cleaner Production initiative encourages women working in NGOs, universities and companies to form alliances to lead technology transfer processes to prevent industrial pollution. This includes training for women working in polluting industries to learn about techniques and technologies to create a greener industry.

The initiative identified an area in Cali (the capital of Valle del Cauca) with around 450 small and medium enterprises from different industries, such as metallurgy and paint manufacturers, as a priority. The construction sector, which has a large carbon footprint, was also identified as a priority in the region. It is estimated that the building sector contributes up to 30% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions and consumes up to 40% of all energy.

Reducing emissions in various industries in Colombia

 
 

How it works

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Paris Agreement

Fostering Cleaner Production’s all-women leadership alliance is helping transform Colombia’s highly polluting construction industry into a cleaner, greener business. It is estimated that the building sector contributes up to 30% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions and consumes up to 40% of all energy. Energy reductions and greenhouse gas emission reductions in this area help the global community reach the long term temperature goal agreed on in the Paris Agreement of ‘1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.’

In its submission to the Paris Agreement, Colombia pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% relative to the business as usual scenario of 2030. An additional 10% reductions are conditional upon international financial support.