Climate Change Plan Huila 2050: Preparing for Climate Change

This climate change strategy covers the department (state) of Huila, Colombia, and is the first of its kind in the country. The goal of the plan is to launch a climate-smart and competitive regional development strategy that assures that Huila continues to provide clean water and productive sectors through the preservation of its ecosystem services. The plan puts forward sector-specific target areas that include building the country’s best agro-climactic system, producing coffee with zero carbon footprint with a system adapted to future climates, advancing the silvopasture cattle ranches, and taking into account the viability, productivity, and performance of difference crops in future climates, to name a few of the plan’s goals. The overall strategy is supported by the government of Huila as well as location development practitioners and the funding agency, Forest Carbon, Markets and Communities (FCMC) Program through USAID.

According to the strategy, for the department of Huila, Colombia’s Institute for Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM) has predicted an average temperature increase of 2 degrees Celcius by 2040 (which may be higher according to more recent global projections) and a 30 percent decrease in precipitation. This strategy’s aim is to advance understanding and the management of current climate challenges to prevent future expenses.