Naucalpan Urban Lab: Inclusive Climate Actions

The Transformative Urban Coalitions (TUC) Urban Lab in Naucalpan de Juárez, State of Mexico, convenes government, academia, neighbors, businesses and civil society to co-design fast, temporary and low-cost, inclusive climate actions, in order to test solutions in the field, evaluate them, and make adjustments Since 2022, four working groups have implemented nature-based and low-carbon initiatives for green infrastructure, public space, solid waste, and transport, testing solutions that improve safety, comfort, and environmental resilience in the Mexico City metropolitan area.

The Urban Lab in Naucalpan followed a stepwise approach that translated collaboration into visible urban change. From actor mapping to pilot projects, each phase built trust, generated shared learning, and demonstrated that coordinated, low-cost actions can deliver tangible climate and social benefits in complex urban contexts.

Step 1 / Coalition Foundation and Actor Mapping (2022)
Two preparatory meetings brought together local government and civil society to identify shared priorities. In April 2022, the Urban Lab was formally launched. By June, an MoU between WRI México and the Municipality of Naucalpan established the institutional framework for sustained collaboration.

Step 2 / Shared Vision and Action Plan
Participants co-created a 2030 vision and roadmap focused on efficient buildings, sustainable mobility, resilient public spaces, solid waste management, and restoration of the Hondo River corridor. The plan prioritized quick, demonstrative interventions as entry points for longer-term systemic change.

Step 3 / Working Groups and Co-Design
Four thematic working groups—Green Infrastructure, Public Space, Solid Waste, and Public Transport—led participatory design workshops with residents, students, and municipal staff. Local universities contributed technical expertise through design competitions that fostered creativity, local ownership, and youth engagement.

Step 4 / Pilot Implementation (2023)
Pilot projects were implemented across multiple sites, integrating environmental, social, and mobility benefits:

• Plaza Revolución: pedestrian crossings, shaded seating, and temporary urban furniture to improve safety and comfort.

• Hondo River–El Conde rain garden: riverbank restoration, mural painting, and landscaping near the railcar settlement, engaging families and school communities.

• Av. 16 de Septiembre bus stop: a green-roof shelter with rainwater harvesting, lighting, and universal accessibility.

• Circular economy initiatives: awareness campaigns, recycled-material bins, and on-site waste education.

Step 5 / Monitoring and Scaling
Post-implementation assessments tracked temperature reduction, pedestrian use, and community satisfaction. Positive results led the municipality to integrate green-roof shelters and Plaza Revolución design principles into future public-space plans, embedding participatory, climate-adaptive criteria.

These steps positioned the UL as a replicable model.

The UL brought a diverse network through a neutral facilitation process ensuring technical rigor, local ownership, and cross-sector trust:

• Local government: General Directorate for the Environment (DGMA), General Directorate for Urban Development (DGDU), General Directorate for Public Services (DGSP), the Municipal Water and Sewerage Agency of Naucalpan (OAPAS), and the municipal departments of Education and Culture.

• State entities: Secretariat of Urban Development and Public Works of the State of Mexico (SEDUO), supporting alignment between municipal initiatives and state-level planning frameworks.

• Academia: Faculty of Higher Studies Acatlán of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (FES Acatlán–UNAM), Universidad Iberoamericana, and the College of Architects of the State of Mexico, contributing applied research and technical expertise.

• Civil society and NGOs: Preserva Madín, Nace el Arcoíris, Bicimixtles, Mujeres con Alma, SOS Mascotas, Citizen Participation Committees (COPACIs), neighborhood associations, and Fuerza Unida Emiliano Zapata, ensuring strong community representation and social legitimacy.

• Private sector: EcoUrba.

• Facilitator: WRI México, leading the process under the Transformative Urban Coalitions (TUC) initiative, funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Government.

Building community ownership by moving from plans to hands-on participation and shared stewardship:

• Design competitions and participatory workshops in public squares.
• Environmental education and circular economy trainings.
• Public art and mural activities with families and students.
• Social media, signage and open events showcasing the pilots and the visible progress.
• Storytelling through a TUC-produced documentary, spotlighting an urban lab member's perspective to amplify "voices from the ground".

Project funding combined international, municipal, and community inputs:

• International support from the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Government (IKI) via TUC.
• Municipal: Trees, labor, logistics, and permits.
• Private & NGOs: Tools, materials, design support, and volunteer hours.
• Technical Assistance: Training, facilitation, and evaluation led by WRI México.
• Estimated Value: In-kind contributions equivalent to a medium-scale pilot budget; formal cost figures not disclosed.
• Resources: Urban furniture, native vegetation, waste bins, paint and coatings for tactical urbanism, green-roof and lighting materials.

The Urban Lab has transformed public spaces, improved safety, and catalyzed institutional collaboration. Furthermore, it has increased women’s participation in environmental decision-making and reactivated interdepartmental communication, linking technical, cultural, and social agendas for the first time in years in Naucalpan.

• The municipal government plans to intervene in Plaza Revolución in 2026, integrating climate-adaptation criteria developed by the Urban Lab based on the insights and lessons learned from the temporary installations. .  
• The Hondo River - El Conde Rain garden and the street furniture in Plaza Revolución reduced exposure to the surface and heat and strengthened community identity.
• The green-roof bus stop introduced innovative design standards that integrate stormwater management and inclusive access, inspiring other cities to replicate this model and plan for similar initiatives.
• Circular Economy and Waste initiatives raised public awareness and prompted cross-sectoral cooperation on recycling logistics.

Naucalpan’s political and social context made collaboration challenging, yet the Urban Lab turned this complexity into learning opportunities:

• Short political cycles limited the continuity and long-term planning.
• Fragmented governance hindered coordination among agencies.
• Security concerns and low levels of citizen trust led to reduced participation in some areas.
• Limited inclusion of informal residents and private actors required stronger outreach efforts.
• Vandalism and maintenance gaps highlighted the need for meaningful community engagement and co-management.
• Consistent facilitation proved essential to sustain dialogue and progress.

Overall, implementing small, visible actions and fostering transparent collaboration helped rebuilt trust between government and citizens, thereby sustaining collective local climate action.

The Naucalpan Urban Lab demonstrates that inclusive, small-scale interventions can accelerate systemic urban transformation when anchored in collaboration and evidence. Key transferable lessons include:

• Start small: implement visible, low-cost pilots that deliver tangible results.
• Ensure neutrality: create a trusted cross-sector forum with clear ground rules.
• Engage communities: combine design with awareness and stewardship.
• Integrate data: pair interventions with pre/post evaluations for evidence-based information.
• Plan for continuity: secure maintenance, funding, and replication mechanisms early.

This approach can be replicated across other metropolitan municipalities facing governance fragmentation and climate stress.

• Naucalpan Urban Lab - TUC Website
• Naucalpan Urban Lab Profile (IDOS, UNU-EHS, WRI México)
• The Light Rail, a wide-ranging project - Short Film (TUC)

Dr Flávia Guerra
Associate Academic Officer on the Transformative Urban Coalitions (TUC)
United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
guerra@ehs.unu.edu

Dr Andrea Ramírez Agudelo

Associate Academic Officer on the Transformative Urban Coalitions (TUC)
United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS)
ramirez@ehs.unu.edu

MSc Mariana Campos

Manager of Urban Development, World Resources Institute Mexico mariana.campos@wri.org