Institutional and Political Factors in Creating a Community of Practice on Mitigation: The Case of PlanCC, Peru

Abstract

This article explores the design, organization, decision-making processes and the final products of the first phase of the Project for Planning for Climate Change in Peru (PlanCC Project) between 2012 and 2014. It sheds light on a set of institutional factors that the author suggests are observed when dealing with the implantation of climate change mitigation policies and plans in a developing country context. This project confronted from its beginning, a series of institutional challenges that posed political, technical and administrative difficulties. This fact forced public officials to opt for a mixed public–private solution for the technical coordination and administration of the project, one that allowed PlanCC to deliver its proposed outputs on time. The article highlights key lessons learnt from this experience and suggests the importance of focusing on the diverse institutional, political and development contexts in order to enhance opportunities for aligning national and regional development priorities around global climate change mitigation goals.