The two cities are linked by a climate partnership that was established in 2012. The aim of this climate partnership is to intensify the exchange of expertise on climate issues and implement joint projects in this area. Between 2016 and 2019, a cooperation project on recycling, renewable energies and environmental education was carried out in La Paz with Bonn's technical support. Due to the pandemic and political changes, in-person visits have not been possible in recent years. Instead, it have mainly been virtual exchanges taking place. Now, for the first time since 2017, a delegation paid another visit to Bonn under the climate partnership.
To kick things off, Deputy Mayor Dr. Ursula Sautter welcomed the three-person delegation, led by La Paz's Environment Secretary José Eduardo Galindo, to the Old Town Hall on Tuesday, 14 November 2023. The guests also visited Bonn's municipal utilities to find out about the municipal company's climate activities and discuss climate adaptation in Bonn. There was also great interest in Bonn's climate plan, as a similar process is underway in La Paz. The program also included a tour of the thermal waste recycling plant and a visit to the World Secretariat of the Bonn-based ICLEI city network, of which both cities are members. Together with actors from civil society and politics, the participants also worked out what future cooperation could look like.
Bonn and La Paz have partnered since 1996. In 2002, the mayors of both cities signed an official partnership agreement. The project partnership focuses on municipal approaches to sustainability issues such as energy supply, integrated waste management and environmental education. It is supported in a variety of ways through civic engagement. The Bonn-La Paz partnership association has introduced local citizens to the country and the people of Bolivia through numerous activities.
The current visit is taking place as part of the " Municipal Climate Partnerships (opens in a new tab)" program of Engagement Global's Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW), and with funding from SKEW.