The Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas

The Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA) is the outcome of U.S. President Barack Obama's call for a collaborative effort to mitigate the effects of climate change across the western hemisphere. ECPA is an umbrella of initiatives that partner public, private, and academic organizations to promote sustainable development, the use of alternative energy, and the elimination of poverty. APA petitioned the State Department to conduct an ECPA initiative, firmly believing that urban and regional planning can play a key role in achieving core objectives.

Sustainable and Inclusive Housing and Community Development Program

Stemming from another grant funded by the US Department of state, APA is implementing urban housing strategies in Latin America APA is assisting and collaborating with four demonstration projects in Latin America, which address some of the most important issues in comprehensive regional planning and urban housing today.

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The ECPA Urban Planning Initiative

ECPA Urban planning Initiative is funded by the U.S. Department of State and led by APA. This initiative supports Latin American and Caribbean based planning projects geared towards addressing the challenges presented by climate change. According to the United Nations 2010/2011 State of the World's Cities Report, these regions are the most urbanized in the developing world, with over 79% of the population living in cities. The ECPA Urban Planning Initiative supports local projects that help Latin American and Caribbean cities to become more energy efficient, economically robust, and equitable; furthering these urban environments' resiliency to climate change.

The ECPA Urban Planning Initiative maintains multinational partnerships to build equitable communities of lasting value that are both economically and environmentally sustainable. Under this collaborative program, APA provides opportunities designed to improve institutional capacity, knowledge sharing, and expand long-term access to planning expertise and technical assistance throughout the Americas.

ECPA Urban Planning Initiative Goals

• Support and develop locally based governmental, non-governmental, and academic civil society and planning institutions within Latin America and the Caribbean
• Build urban planning capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean to make communities become more climate change resilient, equitable, and economically robust
• Identify useful and transferable programs and projects and engage officials with effective knowledge-sharing strategies across the hemisphere
• Provide and support academic, professional, and technical exchange

Join the Partnership

To help facilitate this collaboration, please join the ECPA Academic and Professional Urban Planning Network at www.ecpaplanning.ning.com. This interactive network is for anyone interested in engaging with urban planners and allied professionals from across the Americas on issues of energy, climate, and sustainable development. By joining, you'll be able to participate in the dialogue associated with the ECPA Urban Planning Initiative and the latest projects, events, and other opportunities.

For more Information

For the latest research, innovative ideas, and to read more please visit the ECPA Urban Planning Initiative website at www.ecpaplanning.org.

To speak with the ECPA Urban Planning Initiative team by e-mail Jennifer Graeff, International Program Manager with APA or Thomas Bassett, Senior Program Associate with APA or phone the APA Washington D.C. office at 202-872-0611.

Past Activities

Please visit www.ecpaplanning.org and click activities