Solidaridad-Playa del Carmen hosted the meeting of the Mexican Network on September 21 and 22, with the theme “Sustainability in Educating Cities.”

The meeting involved the participation of León, Solidaridad, Guanajuato, Purísima del Rincón, Morelia, Celaya, Chihuahua, Rayón, Tlaquepaque, San Cristobal, Oaxaca, and the IAEC Latin American Delegation.

In the context of the meeting, on September 22, the General Assembly of the Mexican Network was held. Through a vote, the member cities appointed Guanajuato as the new coordinating city for the network. The Coordination Commission was also designated, consisting of Solidaridad-Playa del Carmen and León, with the support of the IAEC Latin American Delegation.

Check here the Activity Report of the Mexican Network for the period 2018-2023, under the coordination of León-Guanajuato:

The XV Meeting started with the opening remarks from the outgoing coordinator of REMCE, Jonathan González, who expressed gratitude for the commitment of the educatiNG cities and their efforts towards inclusive cities through dialogue, reflection, cooperation, strengthening institutional capacities, and improving governance.

Next, the Director of the Latin American Delegation, Laura Alfonso, gave a brief overview of the history of the IAEC. She recalled the International Congress that will take place in Curitiba in May 2024 and emphasized the significant role of local governments. These governments, being closer to the citizens, are crucial actors for the development of policies within city networks, guided by the Charter of Educating Cities as a roadmap.

Concluding the welcome session, Mayor Lili Campos Miranda of Solidaridad expressed gratitude for the participation of the cities in the network. She emphasized the importance of civic awareness and its role in various initiatives. Mayor Campos Miranda shared the city’s experience in forming brigades for beach cleaning and turning the issue of sargassum into an opportunity for the city. The significant effort made by the local government to collaborate with citizens, reframing sargassum from a threat to an opportunity, has resulted in a positive impact, leading to the certification of the city’s beaches.

As part of the event, a lecture on “Strategies to Confront Climate Change in Cities” was delivered by Biologist María del Carmen Mejía Alba. She discussed the role of local governments in the recovery of environmental services as strategies to confront climate change in cities.

The next activity involved the presentation of experiences and projects in two thematic blocks: “Sustainable Lifestyles” and “Social Sustainability,” where cities such as León, Playa del Carmen, Morelia, Oaxaca, San Pedro Tlaquepaque, Guanajuato, and Celaya showcased their initiatives. Following this, all participating cities engaged in a workshop on “Challenges of Educating Cities,” where, in working groups, they reflected on and shared the actions, difficulties, and potentials of their cities. Conclusions highlighted the importance of environmental education for all citizens, the need to measure the impact of implemented policies, and the necessity for long-term planning.