Between April and May 2024, the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) in Brazil experienced intense rainfall that exceeded all historical records. One of the state’s most iconic sites, the Guaíba River, rose above five meters, causing widespread flooding across urban and coastal areas.
Central America and the Dominican Republic face a double challenge: their natural, social, and economic wealth coexists with high vulnerability to disasters and extreme climate events. Earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and storms have left deep marks on the region, affecting millions of lives and causing billions in economic losses. But beyond these visible tragedies, thousands of smaller-scale emergencies impact the most vulnerable communities every day.
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COP30 brings nature to the global stage. At COP30, the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group) will convene countries, partners, and stakeholders to showcase practical solutions for closing financing gaps for resilient development through partnerships, innovation, and measurable impact in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
In a world increasingly recognizing the intrinsic value of nature, Belize stands out as a pioneer. The Central American nation is redefining prosperity by embedding natural capital into its national economic and financial decision-making. With the ocean deeply intertwined with its culture, livelihoods, and identity, Belize is proving that economic growth and ecosystem conservation can thrive together.
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Managing projects that must meet environmental and social standards in Latin America and the Caribbean has been a challenge historically because of fragmented data and the lack of common standards. Without reliable and up-to-date spatial information, it is difficult to understand the territorial context, identify risks, and design sustainable interventions. The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), in its role as a strategic partner in the region, is working to close data gaps and harmonize standards.
In today's world, where we are inundated with information, trust has become a rare asset. Trust in nature`s resilience, in institutions that safeguard our planet, and in one another's ability to act. Conservation Trust Funds (CTFs) embody this principle by serving as reliable, transparent, and long-term mechanisms to finance conservation.
Hosted in the Brazilian Amazonia, set to take place in Belém, Brazil, COP30 represents a pivotal moment for the conservation and sustainable development of the region. As the first COP hosted in Amazonia, it will take place in the world's largest tropical forest, home to nearly 60 million people and a territory that covers 42% of the territory in Latin America and the Caribbean.
COP30 offers a historic opportunity to mobilize large-scale financing, for nature-based solutions, Indigenous-led conservation, and sustainable economic models.
Resilient educational and health infrastructure is essential for the development of the Caribbean, a region highly vulnerable to disasters such as hurricanes, which cause severe damage to infrastructure, services, and communities.
Amazonia holds the largest rainforest in the world with unparalleled biodiversity, abundant natural resources and home to almost 50 million people. The Amazonia region provides perfect ecological and social characteristics for Bioeconomy products and services to thrive, while Bioeconomy offers an alternative and transformative model to predatory forms of development that focus on extraction and unsustainable land use. Therefore, the Bioeconomy and the conservation of Amazonia are closely linked and interdependent.
Digital transformation cannot merely be a corporate slogan. Digitizing institutions is essential for driving inclusive development, enhancing operational efficiency, and bridging capacity gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly due to its potential to reduce inequality and boost productivity. Yet, the challenge remains optimizing processes without complete dependence on technical teams.