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SECCI
Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative
Alternative energy, sustainable agriculture, climate-friendly transportation and climate resilient resource management are just some of the many areas in which the Inter-American Development Bank is leading the way in setting high sustainability standards. These standards are part of the Bank’s commitment of providing countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with the best available technologies and practices to ensure economic viability, social equity, and environmental integrity.
The goals of the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative are centered around the provision of comprehensive sustainability options in areas related to the energy, transportation, water and environmental sectors as well as building climate resilience in key priority areas vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The Initiative consists of four strategic pillars:
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Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
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Sustainable Biofuel Development
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Access to Carbon Markets
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Adaptation to Climate Change
In 2009 as part of the development and management of the Initiative, the IDB created the Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Unit (ECC). More
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Latest Publications
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The Climate and Development Challenge for Latin America and the Caribbean: Options for Climate-Resilient, Low-Carbon Development
Date: Apr, 2013
This book is a joint effort lead by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in collaboration with the Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) focused on the climate and development challenge for LAC. It deals with a matter that is bound to affect the likelihood of achieving sustainable progress in Latin America and the Caribbean. Indeed, climate change is already affecting the foundations on which Latin American societies rely for sustenance and welfare.
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Mid-term Evaluation of IDB-9 Commitments: Overview
Date: Mar, 2013
In 2010 the Governors of the IDB approved two formal agreements -the "Cancun Declaration" and the "Report on the Ninth General Increase in the Resources of the Inter-American Development Bank"- leading to the Bank's Ninth General Capital Increase (IDB-9). These agreements tied IDB-9 to a series of reforms broadly intended to strengthen the strategic focus, development effectiveness, and efficiency of the Bank to help it remain relevant and competitive in the years ahead. IDB's Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) was charged with conducting a midterm evaluation to assess whether these reforms were being implemented fully and effectively. This overview report summarizes the findings of OVE's evaluation and provides 10 priority recommendations to help the Bank move forward effectively on this broad range of fronts. More in-depth findings and suggestions in individual areas are available in the 22 background papers accompanying this report.
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IDB-9: IDB Integrated Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Sustainable and Renewable Energy
Date: Mar, 2013
This paper reviews the Inter-American Development Bank¿s Integrated Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, and Sustainable and Renewable Energy (CCS). The Strategy was produced as a requirement of the IDB-9 Agreement and approved by Board of Executive Directors in March 2011. Management produced an Action Plan for the CCS in February 2012. Although the IDB-9 also mentions "food security" as a sector priority, the CCS does not include this topic, nor does it discuss "protection of the environment" more generally. In reviewing this and other sector strategies mandated in IDB-9, the Office of Evaluation and Oversight (OVE) asks two questions: Does it make sense? and Does it make a difference? The CCS is based on strong analytical work, though it does not prioritize among different agendas/instruments or highlight a key comparative advantage of the Bank: the IDB¿s ability to use technical cooperation grants to help its client countries prepare new investment operations and build needed institutional capacity. The CCS does not identify risks or provide indicators and a monitoring and evaluation framework for implementing the Strategy. IDB-9 provides a lending target of 25% by 2015 for operations for climate change, renewable energy, and sustainable environment. The number of operations has indeed increased over time. In January 2012, the Office of Strategic Planning and Development Effectiveness approved guidelines for classifying lending program priorities (GN-2650) to help ensure consistent classification and compliance with IDB-9 lending targets. These guidelines are very broad and have led to classifying about one-third of the IDB portfolio under these objectives in 2011 and 2012. It is unclear whether these numbers accurately reflect the actual size of the climate change portfolio. The Bank¿s internal staff capacity in the area of climate change has grown. The formal establishment of a Climate Change and Sustainability Division not only signals a more permanent Bank institutional commitment in and to this area, but also reportedly gives the unit greater autonomy and flexibility in terms of the operations it leads or co-leads with other divisions, including the division responsible for private sector operations. However, it is not clear if creating a new parallel sector division is the most appropriate and effective way of mainstreaming climate change considerations in the operations of other sectors. In sum, although the IDB has taken positive steps to increase its focus on climate change and environmental sustainability, the CSS is more of a conceptual document and an institutional confirmation of an evolving new area of engagement than a strategy to prioritize and guide this work.
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Highlights of the Sustainability Report 2012
Date: Mar, 2013
This Sustainability Report covers sustainability progress and performance in the 2012 fiscal year for the Inter-American Development Bank. It includes a special focus on water and the need for climate adaptation.
Clean Technology Fund
SECCI and Multi-Donor Fund
- Curbing Climate Change (2:12)
