Plan 4C A Competitive and Climate Compatible Cartagena

Plan 4C is a strategic framework for Cartagena, Colombia, aiming for climate compatible development by 2040. It addresses risks such as a projected 60 cm sea level rise and flooding that could affect 27.5% of the population and 86% of the city's historic heritage. The plan proposes 5 strategies and 36 projects across three main axes: economic adaptation (ports, industry, tourism), citizen adaptation (neighborhoods), and ecological restoration. The total estimated cost for city-wide adaptation is COL$1.5 trillion, with implementation supported by the proposed Cartagena Climate Action Center and a dedicated District Climate Change Fund.

• Plan 4C is a long-term planning framework designed to achieve climate compatible development for Cartagena by 2040, making it the first coastal city in Colombia to establish such a vision. The plan consists of 5 strategies and 36 projects aimed at reducing poverty, promoting sectoral competitiveness, and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
• Climate projections for Cartagena indicate that a 2°C temperature increase would lead to a 60 cm rise in sea level by 2040. Without adaptation and mitigation, it is projected that by 2040, 27.5% of the population and 26.2% of houses could be flooded, while 86% of historic heritage would be affected by flooding.
• The city's economic competitiveness is tied to sectors highly vulnerable to climate change, including the Mamonal industrial zone (which contributes 6% to national GDP), a port structure handling 60% of Colombia's container cargo, and a significant tourism sector. The plan identifies the industrial sector as 28% under threat of flooding.
• Plan 4C is structured around three main axes: Integrated Adaptation to economic development (covering ports, industry, tourism, and historic heritage), Citizens and Adaptation (focusing on adapted neighborhoods), and Ecological Restoration (emphasizing ecosystem-based adaptation). These are supported by cross-cutting axes for information, monitoring, education, and communication.
• The estimated cost for the adaptation and mitigation proposals in Plan 4C for the 2014–2024 period is COL$147,125 million. When including broader city and national projects, the total cost for the adaptation of Cartagena is estimated at approximately COL$1.5 trillion (2014 values).
• To implement the plan, the document proposes the creation of the Cartagena District Climate Change Fund (FDCCC) for financial sustainability and the Cartagena Climate Action Center (CACC) to serve as an intermediary for coordination between public and private sectors.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (n.d.). Plan 4C A Competitive and Climate Compatible Cartagena. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Executive-Summary-Plan4C1.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. Plan 4C A Competitive and Climate Compatible Cartagena. n.d. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Executive-Summary-Plan4C1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=Plan 4C A Competitive and Climate Compatible Cartagena |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Executive-Summary-Plan4C1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetworkndplan, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{Plan 4C A Competitive and Climate Compatible Cartagena}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Executive-Summary-Plan4C1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }