The Ministry of Transport of Colombia, in collaboration with CDKN and ICF International is starting to work on an effort to mainstream climate change into the transport sector of Colombia. As part of this effort, the Viceminister of Infrastructure held a kick-off meeting on April 29 with transport sector associations including the Colombian Society of Engineers, the Colombian Association of Tunnels and Underground Infrastructures, Colombian Society of Geomatics, and the Colombian Chamber of Infrastructure, among others, to share the goals and objectives of the project.

During the meeting, the Viceminister described major activities to be conducted which include the development of an “Issues Paper” on Colombia’s climate change risks, and their significance to the road transport sector; a Manual to incorporate climate related risk into road transportation infrastructure procurement procedures; and a Climate Change Adaptation Plan for the transport sector.

To help guide the efforts of each one of these activities, workshops will be held with transport sector stakeholders to discuss the issues paper findings and its implications, discuss the needs for standards and specifications for infrastructure and potential ways to introduce climate change in the procurement process, and start a framework for the adaptation plan.

The Viceminister of Infrastructure took this opportunity to share the progress of the project and invited the association representatives to attend the workshops. He also stressed the important role that they play in this project as their participation and input during these workshops will be critical to the development and implementation of successful and effective measures to help Colombia mainstream climate change into their transport sector.

All of the associations got engaged with the project and were committed to support all activities as needed.