Vertical integration and learning for low-emission development (V-LED)

In many countries, counties and municipalities are becoming increasingly powerful emitters of greenhouse gases. These actors, however, have typically played only a minor role in climate policy implementations. The project supported national governments in partner countries to realise the full potential of regional climate action programmes. Phase I aimed to facilitate cooperation at all levels of government by using vertical climate dialogue and investigating multi-level climate legislation. It also improved horizontal learning for local climate action programmes, employing approaches such as best-practice knowledge transfer, regional workshops, toolkits and training. Phase II focused on a coaching-for-action strategy. Selected subnational governments in South Africa and Kenya received support to fund local climate action programmes. Case studies about collaborative climate action mechanisms were also being prepared in some partner countries.

Project data

Countries: Colombia, Kenya, Philippines, South Africa, Viet Nam
IKI funding: 3,642,963.12 €
Duration: 02/2015 till 06/2021
Status: completed
Implementing organisation: adelphi research gemeinnützige GmbH
Political Partner: Climate Change Commission (CCC) - Philippines

Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) - South Africa

Ministry of Construction - Viet Nam

Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development (MinAmbiente) - Colombia

Ministry of Environment and Forestry - Kenya*
Implementing Partner: Institute for Law and Environmental Governance (ILEG) - Kenya

OneWorld Group

Sustainable Energy Africa (SEA) - South Africa

UN-HABITAT
Online: http://www.localclimateaction.org

https://www.adelphi.de/en/project/vertical-integration-and-learning-low-emission-development-africa-and-asia

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State of implementation/results

Project completed.
End 2020: Launch of “Real Practice” Studies on Collaborative Climate Action in Kenya, the Philippines and Colombia: The V-LED Real Practice series responds to the demand for real-life examples and practical knowledge about multi-level climate governance. The series answers the question: How have local and national governments addressed challenges in their collaborative climate actions? By delving into the details of practical initiatives, examining the challenges they face and highlighting key lessons for replication, the series extends knowledge to policy makers and implementers in order to improve collaborative action among local, national and global actors. www.localclimateaction.org/…
Launch of State of Energy in South African Cities 2020 report. In November 2020, Sustainable Energy Africa presented the 4th edition of the State of Energy in South African cities report. A virtual launch event and dialogue workshop provided insight into the status quo of the sustainable urban energy transition, and discussed next steps in democratising energy in cities with activists, academics, municipalities and city networks. www.localclimateaction.org/…
In Kenya, project achievements are leading to the adoption of a new climate change policy framework at the county level: The V-LED project accompanied the Kwale County Government in the development and adoption of its Climate Change Policy and Bill and establishment of its inter-sectoral Climate Change Unit (CCU). V-LED conducted technical coachings and stakeholder engagement workshops, and drafted the climate change policy documents. Accompanied by local media, the CCU and the project team presented the Climate Change Policy and Bill to the County government leadership. The Kwale Governor endorsed the Policy and related Bill by summoning the Kwale County Chief Officer for Environment and Natural Resources, the Lead of Climate Finance at the Kenyan National Treasury and the V-LED director in Kenya to ask them to ensure that the process goes forward and the draft bill is enacted as law. This improved policy framework will enable the county government to establish a climate change fund mechanism and access international and national climate finance to implement climate projects on the ground.
In South Africa, the project is working with eMalahleni local municipality and Nkangala district municipality. Both are located in Mpumalanga province, which is home to extensive mining operations and South Africa's major coal-fired power stations. These industries have had a detrimental impact on the environment and wellbeing of citizens. Through a series of coachings, V-LED is supporting the subnational governments in their strategy development and planning their transition into a sustainable future.
V-LED article about the importance of collaboration between government levels for an urban low-carbon transformation: In the Face of an Urban Climate Emergency: www.urbanet.info/…
V-LED supported BMU and the GIZ Climate Policy Meets Urban Development project, in facilitating the event “Localising global agendas – the case of Collaborative Climate Action”.
In June 2019 V-LED organised in partnership with UCLG Africa, the breakout session “The practice of collaborative climate action & locally defined contributions – for a multi-level governance approach to NDC revisions” at the Global NDC Conference in Berlin. The session interactively explored successful mechanisms to scale up subnational climate action through collaboration across governing levels. The session shared V-LED’s lessons learnt and facilitated key inputs from UCLG Africa, the Philippine Climate Change Commission, the South African Local Government Association and an adelphi study on urban climate finance. More: globalndcconference.org
In May 2019 the V-LED team brought its lessons learnt and practical insights on collaborative climate action to the ICCA2019 & Climate Neighbourhoods conference in Heidelberg. Partners and project stakeholders from Kenya, South Africa, Philippines, Vietnam, Colombia and Germany jointly contributed to the South-South-North dialogue and learning character of the conference and co-facilitated and contributed to various workshops and plenary sessions.
The V-LED synthesis report summarises four years of project learnings, research and practitioner observations, offering clear and concise entry points for supporting multi-level climate governance and local climate action. “Entry Points to Support Collaborative Climate Action”, available at: www.localclimateaction.org/…
Phase I of the V-LED project was concluded in January 2019.