The Paris Agreement requires concrete action that is increasingly urgent and far-reaching, and this transformation requires significant financial investments by governments, businesses, and civil society. A group of multilateral development banks (MDBs) has just published its annual report on climate finance which provides details on US$43 billion of approvals in for developing countries.
Finding suitable land to build social infrastructure is a great challenge. Budgets are usually very limited; there are few available lands and often they have legal problems or debts, lack of public services or require additional work besides those of the project itself. In many countries, through intergovernmental agreements, donated land is accepted, which seems to be the ideal solution since, in theory, there is no cost. However, the reality is very different. Many of the lands that in the first instance seem to be costless can present problems and "hidden" costs.
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, there are exciting signs that climate change action is going mainstream. From the issuance of the first sovereign green bond in the Americas in Chile to various cities across the region acquiring electric buses, Latin America and the Caribbean is embracing an ambitious agenda to help transition to low-emission and climate-resilient economies. This is not just about greener and cleaner policies but reigniting growth.
The 65 000 fishermen that share the 1 770km of the Haitian coastline rely on rudimentary equipment and fishing vessels such as canoes and wooden boats (representing 51% and 37% respectively of the country’s estimated 28,000 active fishing boats). However, even with basic equipment, the techniques used have negative impacts on the marine resources and ecosystems.
It’s World Oceans Day on Saturday, June 8th and it is time to acknowledge that its condition is very poor. We’ve all seen the dramatic pictures of the plastic being removed from the insides of marine birds, whales, and all kinds of fish.
Last year the top climate scientist of the world presented a report that answers the call nations tasked them to study: what will be the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and what paths could the world take to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C? The answer to the first question is grim: What is at stake if we do not stabilize climate change is the prosperity of all and the development gains to lift people out of poverty.
The environmental and social safeguard policies have as objectives to prevent, minimize and mitigate adverse impacts that affect the environment and society. They also promote the conservation of biodiversity and ensure the provision of ecosystem services. These policies have been the answer for improving actions during the implementation of activities aimed at managing environmental risk in infrastructure projects in the different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Emerging countries show an important role in the expansion of beef production. Between 2000-2007, the share of beef production in emerging economies increased by 7.9%, led by India (4.0%), Latin America (2.9%) and China (1.8%). This increase occurs in a context where consumption has been growing, a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years. However, much has been written regarding the impact of the beef industry on the environment, particularly about its negative effect on greenhouse gas emissions (GHG).
Over the past seven years, I have lived in the most biodiverse country on the planet. This has allowed me to enrich the palette of flavors and colors of my life. A visit to the street market is enough to appreciate the variety of fruits that come from the different altitudinal gradients, offering unlimited flavors, textures, and colors. I have over seven different types of potatoes to choose for lunch, which can also be paired with fresh fish that come from the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, and the Magdalena River.
This blog was originally posted by La Republica When President Alvarado unveiled Costa Rica’s decarbonization plan in March, he began by emphasizing that for it to be successful, the plan would need to improve lives for ordinary Costa Ricans.