Sostenibilidad

International Oceans Day is a reminder of the importance of this ecosystem. The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface, generates half of the oxygen we breathe and absorbs at least a quarter of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activity. They are also a vital source of food, energy and natural resources for millions of people worldwide. However, the oceans face serious threats, such as overfishing, pollution, climate change, and acidification, which negatively affect their biodiversity and their ability to regulate climate and natural cycles.

Around 267 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) suffer from food insecurity. This means that 40% of the population lacks physical or economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food to meet their daily needs and lead a healthy life (FAO, 2022). But the problem doesn't end there, as 8.6%, 56 million inhabitants, experience hunger in its raw form, meaning they don't have sufficient food consumption to cover their caloric requirements.

According to a study published in 2021 by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), nearly 2 million people die each year from work-related causes. 81% of these deaths correspond to non-communicable diseases and 19% are related to occupational injuries. There is also a reported trend of deaths from heart disease and stroke associated with exposure to long working hours.

Water is one of the planet's most precious resources and access to an adequate and safe supply of water for personal and domestic consumption is a fundamental human right.

Countries continue to invest in low-carbon and climate-resilient development, reducing the probability of new environmental and social crises emerging in the foreseeable future. The IDB continues to use concessional finance and technical assistance to ramp up climate action and support Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries facing the climate crisis.

April 22 is Earth Day and it is a reminder of one of the most pressing issues we face today: climate change. This year's Earth Day coincides with the just recent launch of the IPCC's sixth assessment report on climate change, making it a particularly significant occasion. The report's findings highlight the urgent need for action to address the climate crisis and protect our so-at-risk planet.

Any given day could become an opportunity to reflect on our progress towards enhanced gender equality and highlight its intrinsic value as a driver of sustainable development. According to the OECD, if women participated in the economy identically to men, it would add up to 26% to annual global GDP. However, female economic empowerment is not the only obstacle to gender equality.

Leveraging additional finance to support the sustainability goals is crucial to address the financial gap for climate and biodiversity challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Inter-American Development Bank is committed to supporting its member countries in achieving their ambitions under the Paris Agreement and the Montreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework, and structuring innovative financial mechanisms is fundamental to ensuring that national plans are funded.

In our last blog, we described the first two steps to identify stakeholders in a project, and how to classify these groups according to the type of relationship they have with the envisioned interventions. In this post, we will talk about the last two steps of this process: developing a needs matrix and strategies for managing stakeholders.

The health landscape in Latin America and the Caribbean is challenging and is closely linked to environmental care. According to data from the Pan American Health Organization, 13% of deaths in the region are currently attributed to environmental risks, accounting for 847,000 deaths per year.