Setting Incentives for Emission Reductions in Developing Countries: The Case of Colombia

Colombia faces challenges from rapid urbanisation and hydroelectric uncertainty while attempting to decarbonise its building sector. Current policies, including building codes and energy efficiency measures, are insufficient to achieve this goal. The document proposes using Article 6 of the Paris Agreement to launch a Net Zero Energy Buildings pilot in social housing, which could reduce emissions, energy poverty, and subsidy payments. While the building sector is not a major emitter, the author suggests that international cooperation and climate finance are necessary to mobilise private capital and align the sector with the Paris Agreement's temperature goals.

• Colombia's current energy efficiency policies, including building codes, appliance performance standards, and renewable electricity policies, are not sufficient to put the country's building sector on a path toward decarbonisation.
• To limit global warming to 2°C, global building sector emissions must decrease by 77% by 2050 relative to 2010 levels; a 1.5°C limit would require a reduction of up to 90%.
• A pilot project for Net Zero Energy Buildings in the social housing sector, facilitated by Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, could provide multiple benefits, including reduced emissions, lower energy poverty, decreased subsidy payments, and improved public health and energy security.
• Implementing Article 6 transfers in the building sector presents challenges regarding environmental integrity, specifically concerning baseline setting, additionality, and monitoring reporting and verification.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2020). Setting Incentives for Emission Reductions in Developing Countries: The Case of Colombia. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/setting-incentives-for-emission-reductions-in-developing-countries-the-case

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Setting Incentives for Emission Reductions in Developing Countries: The Case of Colombia. 2020. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/setting-incentives-for-emission-reductions-in-developing-countries-the-case.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Setting Incentives for Emission Reductions in Developing Countries: The Case of Colombia |date=26 November 2020 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/setting-incentives-for-emission-reductions-in-developing-countries-the-case |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2020setting, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Setting Incentives for Emission Reductions in Developing Countries: The Case of Colombia}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2020}, month = nov, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/setting-incentives-for-emission-reductions-in-developing-countries-the-case}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }