Mexico City Co-Leads New Climate, Health Resilience Network

Mexico City joined other Latin American cities to launch the Resilient Cities, Reimagining Health Community of Practice (CoP). The initiative aims to strengthen local capacities to address the health impacts of climate change through cross-sector collaboration.

Mexico City will co-lead the regional initiative alongside Rio de Janeiro. The effort is being implemented through a partnership between the city’s Environment Ministry (SEDEMA), the Ministry for Comprehensive Risk Management and Civil Protection (SGIRPC), and the Ministry of Health (SEDESA).

The CoP is part of Urban Pulse, a program launched at COP28 in Dubai. It is backed by the Resilient Cities Network and the Health Systems Working Group of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, with support from Bupa, Reckitt, Yale University, the Rockefeller Foundation, and Mode Economics. The initiative promotes technical cooperation, practical tools, and preventive public policies at the intersection of climate, health and equity.

Representing Mexico City at the virtual launch were Norlang Marcel García, Director General of Resilience, SGIRPC, and Ana Mendívil, Director of Climate Change, SEDEMA. The delegation also included SEDESA advisors, academics from UNAM, and support from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI).

During the session, participants shared experiences and reviewed initial findings from the Urban Pulse program. Mexico City presented its intersectoral approach to public health, climate change and risk management, framed by its updated Resilience Strategy 2025–2045, Climate Action Program 2021–2030, and Local Climate Action Strategy 2021–2050.

Other participating cities included Guadalajara, Monterrey, Porto Alegre, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, Santiago in Chile, Cali and Medellin in Colombia, Buenos Aires and Santa Fe in Argentina, and Panama City in The Community of Practice seeks to promote regional cooperation on urban resilience, linking local expertise with global support to build healthier and safer urban environments.