On July 26th the world celebrates the InternationalDayfor the Conservation of theMangroveEcosystem. This is an ideal opportunity to acknowledge the great importance of these forest ecosystems to coastal ecological health, our economy and contribution to addressing the climate crisis. In Suriname, this day is very important to us since mangroves are an invaluable part of our lives and there are innovative methods underway to protect them.
The public transport sector in Ecuador has been one of the most affected sectors in the country by the pandemic. Initially, there was a significant drop in demand since in order to reduce infections the confinement of the population was imposed and mobility restricted.
The country's current situation reflects its vulnerability to the health emergency, but its essential role is also clear for economic recovery and the search for solutions to create more resilient and sustainable cities.
Social protection is a solution to address the impact of both COVID-19 and the climate crisis, but the most vulnerable must be identified quickly.
The pandemic crisis illustrates our global economic and social fragility and the damage that could be caused by the climate crisis unless we act decisively now.Latin America and the Caribbean is the second-most disaster-prone region in the world, with over 152 million people affected by 1,205 disasters since 2000.
On May 28, IDB President Luis Alberto Moreno hosted an event with Lord Nicolas Stern, professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, on the importance of climate change policy and what a sustainable recovery from the pandemic could look like.In his introduction, President Moreno said that despite the very difficult challenges countries face to protect citizens from the pandemic and restart their economies, we must also look ahead.
At the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in April, the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, was unequivocal about the need for a green recovery, which she described as a bridge towards a more resilient future.Ms.
Fishing is an important activity for the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean. The oceanographic, biochemical, geographical, and climatic characteristics of marine and coastal ecosystems of the region have benefited it with some of the most productive fisheries on the planet. In 2018 alone, the region's fisheries exports exceeded $16 billion. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, fish production in the region has shown a decline that has been accentuated in the last decade.
Most people recognize that the climate crisis is upon us. Yet there is still a lack of understanding of how to protect businesses and communities from the impacts of climate change. Climate change is increasing risks and impacts across the world, particularly in developing countries where there is less capacity to adapt. By 2030, studies suggest that the cost of making climate-vulnerable business sectors resilient is expected to be in the billions per year.
The world is facing an unprecedented health crisis caused by infectious diseases. According to the US National Institute of Health, 60% of all infectious diseases in humans are of animal origin (zoonotic), and they represent 75% of new and emerging diseases.
For decades, air quality indices in Bogotá and Medellín were not as positive as those presented between March and May 2020, following the mandatory confinement ordered by the government to face COVID-19. Caused by increasing air pollution from emissions from traffic and industrial and productive activities, the constant red, orange and violet alerts had become almost never-ending. However, suddenly this situation was reversed and gave way to good and acceptable levels of air quality in both cities.