Cuenca Just Became the Third City in Ecuador With a Climate Action Plan — Here's What's In It

A Decade-Long Roadmap for a Greener Cuenca

On February 19, Cuenca officially launched its Plan de Acción Climática (PAC-Cuenca) 2025–2035 — a 10-year climate strategy that makes it the third city in Ecuador (after Quito and Loja) to adopt a comprehensive climate action plan.

Mayor Cristian Zamora called it "a clear roadmap with defined actions and goals," noting that the city's environmental awareness around climate challenges runs "much deeper" than many realize.

What's Actually In the Plan?

The PAC defines 16 prioritized measures organized under two strategic pillars:

Mitigation (reducing emissions):

• Energy sector reforms and renewable energy projects
• Sustainable transportation — including Cuenca's first electric bus fleet, planned for 2026
• Improved waste management
• Land use reforms

Adaptation (building resilience):

• Protection of natural areas and strategic water sources — water is described as the central focus of the entire plan
• Strengthened ecosystem conservation
• Better water information systems
• Climate-resilient urban planning

The plan also emphasizes nature-based solutions, citizen participation, and integrating climate considerations into all future urban development decisions.

How It Was Built

This wasn't thrown together over a weekend. The plan took one full year to develop, with:

• 43 public and private institutions participating — including national ministries, universities (University of Cuenca, University of Azuay, UPS, Catholic University), energy companies, and ETAPA
• Technical workshops and sectoral roundtables
• A full territorial climate diagnostic identifying emission sources and vulnerabilities
• Financial support and technical assistance from Germany's GIZ (German Cooperation Agency) through its "Sustainable Intermediate Cities" initiative

Thomas Klette, German Honorary Consul, emphasized that the plan connects "Cuenca's development vision with national and international climate commitments" — including the Paris Agreement and the UN's 2030 Agenda.

Bloomberg Just Gave Cuenca $150K — And There's More Coming

Here's where it gets interesting for the community. Bloomberg Philanthropies has selected Cuenca for two programs:

Youth Climate Action Fund: $150,000 to finance 29 youth-led environmental projects. Over 700 young people submitted proposals — making Cuenca the location with the most submissions globally. That's a remarkable stat for a city this size.

AquaSmart (Bloomberg Mayor's Challenge): A technology and education initiative to reduce water consumption in homes and public buildings. Cuenca was selected among 50 finalist cities from over 630 applicants worldwide. The current award is $50,000 for prototype development, with a potential $1 million prize in 2026 if Cuenca wins the final round.

What This Means for You

If you live in Cuenca, here's the practical takeaway:

• Electric buses are coming. The plan targets 2026 for deployment, which could reduce emissions and improve air quality along major routes.
• Water protection is the priority. Cuenca's water quality is already exceptional by regional standards — this plan aims to keep it that way.
• Expect more recycling and waste programs. The waste management reforms will likely mean changes to collection and sorting in the coming years.
• The city is attracting international climate money. Bloomberg funding, GIZ support, and alignment with international frameworks position Cuenca to attract more green investment.

For a city that already markets itself on livability and natural beauty, having a formal climate strategy adds substance to the brand. And for the 700+ young Cuencanos who submitted climate project proposals? It suggests the next generation is taking this seriously.

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Sources: El Nuevo Tiempo, El Mercurio, Metro Ecuador