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The project aims to support 175,000 people in rural Guatemala by transitioning them from a heavy reliance on rain-fed agriculture to climate-resilient production systems. It proposes a three-component approach: implementing on-farm resilient practices and income diversification, establishing watershed-level water management plans and infrastructure, and removing policy barriers to strengthen agricultural extension services. With a total indicative cost of 62 million USD, the project targets indigenous populations and women who face significant barriers to credit and technical knowledge.

Carbon Market Watch criticizes EU leaders for adopting a 2030 climate deal that it argues weakens emission reductions to 31% due to excess permits and provides up to €300 billion in subsidies to industry. Separately, the organization highlights human rights abuses and lack of consultation affecting indigenous communities in Guatemala associated with the UN-registered Santa Rita hydroelectric project.

The statement criticizes the Santa Rita hydroelectric project in Guatemala's Alta Verapaz region, alleging that the project ignores the legal requirement for prior indigenous community consent and has led to human rights violations, intimidation, and environmental degradation. It highlights a pattern of criminalization of local leaders and lack of benefit for native populations, arguing that such projects contradict the Clean Development Mechanism's (CDM) goal of promoting sustainable development.

The Santa Rita Hydroelectric Plant in Guatemala's Alta Verapaz region was registered as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project in June 2014 despite strong opposition from local indigenous communities. The document asserts that the project violated the Guatemalan Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ILO Convention 169, and CDM Modalities and Procedures by failing to conduct proper public consultations. This lack of compliance is linked to severe human rights abuses, including the alleged deaths of seven people and repressive police operations against Q’eqchi´ communities. The project is funded by the Latin Renewables Infrastructure Fund (LRIF), with investments from the IFC (USD 15mln), SIFEM (USD 7mln), DEG, FMO, and AECID. Civil society organizations have filed complaints with the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) and the IFC, demanding the withdrawal of financing and the cancellation of the CDM registration.

The Santa Rita hydroelectric project on the Dolores River in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala, was registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in June 2014 despite strong opposition from local Q’eqchi’ communities. The document reports that the project violated the Guatemalan Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples, ILO Convention 169, and CDM procedures by failing to conduct appropriate public consultations. This lack of consultation and the subsequent project development led to severe human rights abuses, including the alleged extrajudicial killings of seven people, including two children, and violent police repression against indigenous families in August 2014. The project is funded via the Latin Renewables Infrastructure Fund (LRIF), with investors including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which contributed 15 million dollars, and the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM), which contributed approximately 7 million dollars. In October 2014, civil society organizations filed a formal complaint with the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) of the IFC, citing a lack of public consultation and the criminalization of opponents. The document uses this case to advocate for a human rights-based strategy in the 2015 climate agreement, noting that climate actions must respect and protect human rights.