EJ4Climate Project

Conscious Energy Use and Climate Change Adaptation by Women, Children and Youth in Maseuales Communities

Organization: Fundación Tosepan, A.C.
This organization focuses on health and well-being, quality of education, gender equity, affordable and non-polluting energy, sustainable cities and communities and climate action.

Location: Cuetzalan del Progreso, in the state of Puebla
Communities benefiting directly from the project: Flores Magón in Tuzamapan de Galeana, a town and municipality in Puebla; San Antonio Rayón and Tecpantzingo in Jonotla, a municipality in Puebla; and Ixtahuata, Tepetzintan, Zoquita, Xaltipan, Xaltzinta, Cuetzalan and Tacuapan, in the Cuetzalan del Progreso municipality.

Country: Mexico

Other Organizations Involved: Unión de Cooperativas Tosepan

Active Conscious Energy Use and Climate Change Adaptation @ Fundación Tosepan, A.C.

Background

Population growth and an increase in natural resource consumption have had negative environmental impacts such as deforestation, water and air pollution and climate change. In many communities, these impacts are made worse by inefficient use of traditional cooking fuels, water waste and overconsumption of energy.

By using eco-friendly technologies such as energy-efficient wood stoves, rainwater collection systems, biofilters for gray water treatment, wood-saving water heaters and wastewater biodigesters, this project seeks to implement sustainable practices in households and communities. These solutions will reduce pollution, improve quality of life and optimize the use of natural resources. More-sustainable development will be fostered by promoting environmental education, encouraging responsible habits and adopting clean technologies, all the while mitigating the environmental impact.

Goals

  1. Empower 50 women in environmental justice, gender and climate change issues (one year).
  2. Train 50 women and a family member in the construction and use of two ecotechnologies (two years).
  3. Implement 100 ecotechnologies in participating households and engage their members in the use of adopted technologies (two years).
  4. Engage 80 children and adolescents in sustainable practices (one year).
  5. Integrate six sustainable-practice promoters (one year).
  6. Integrate six community promoters (six months).
  7. Support 24 families in ecotechnology validation in six communities (two years).

Main activities

  1. Facilitate environmental justice, gender and climate change training workshops for 50 women.
  2. Provide practical training in building and maintaining ecotechnologies.
  3. Set up ecotechnologies such as energy-saving stoves, rainwater collection systems and biofilters.
  4. Facilitate environmental practice workshops for 80 children and youth.
  5. Draft a training manual for environmental education.
  6. Integrate six community promoters to monitor the project.
  7. Validate ecotechnologies in 24 households and consolidate the Innovation Center.

Expected outcomes

  1. 50 women trained on the topics of environment and gender.
  2. 100 eco-friendly technologies set up in households.
  3. 80 children and youth engaged in sustainable practices.
  4. 6 community promoters who strengthen community work.
  5. The Innovation Center consolidated as a proving ground.
  6. Wood use reduced; access to clean water gained by participating communities.