In May 2026, EcoCitizen welcomed Edwin Castellanos, Vice Minister for Natural Resources and Climate of Guatemala and Coordinating Lead Author of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, during his working visit to Luxembourg. The team facilitated a courtesy visit to various sites in Luxembourg and strategic meeting with Vanessa Schummer, Director for Social and Solidarity Economy at the Luxembourg Ministry of Labour.
The conversation focused on a question both sides are grappling with: how social economy structures can be put to work for climate and nature targets. Together we examined how purpose-driven economic models, including Luxembourg’s Societal Impact Companies (SIS), can channel resources toward locally grounded, socially equitable climate resilience and ecological restoration.
Bridging social economy with climate-nature targets
Vanessa Schummer outlined Luxembourg’s growing social and solidarity economy ecosystem and the ministerial frameworks that support social innovation in response to societal and ecological challenges.
Vice Minister Castellanos brought the Mesoamerican perspective, describing how indigenous and community-led enterprises in Guatemala are operating on the frontlines of climate adaptation. Both parties agreed that environmental outcomes are inseparable from social equity, and that integrating social entrepreneurship models into climate financing opens pathways to more inclusive and lasting results on the ground.
Connecting science, policy, and practice at the University of Luxembourg
As part of his broader engagement in the Grand Duchy, Vice Minister Castellanos also joined other international experts at the University of Luxembourg for the workshop ‘Advancing action at the climate change–biodiversity interface’.
EcoCitizen is a fully not-for-profit social-ecological impact enterprise certified as a Société d’Impact Sociétal, and a research institute accredited by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, working with governments, multilateral institutions, civil society organisations, and the private sector on science-based advisory services, multilateral processes, and applied research in climate and nature. Its team has extensive experience in UNFCCC and UNCBD processes and builds bridges between Mesoamerica and Europe, connecting regional actors with knowledge networks, institutional partners, and financing instruments so that technical preparation translates into viable environmental projects.
To learn how our team can support your next process, write to us at moien@ecocitizen.lu
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