Sostenibilidad

For urban populations, mangroves are usually unwelcoming places, full of insects, reptiles and mud. However, after half a century of ecological research, we now know that mangrove forests offer great value through a variety of environmental services such as nurseries for fish, crustaceans and mollusks, supplying food and medicinal plants, protecting against natural disasters and stabilizing coastlines. They also provide construction materials, can be sites of cultural and religious significance for indigenous populations as well as recreational and touristic places.

Climate change will have broad implications on how financial institutions identify, assess, and manage a range of risks and opportunities. Whether in the form of the physical impacts of climate change or transition risks due to the policies and market shifts to stabilize and reduce greenhouse gas emissions– many financial institutions are gradually recognizing the importance of understanding and addressing climate risks in their existing portfolio and operations, as well as in pipeline and future investments.

At the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), we work to improve lives in Latin America and the Caribbean. We do this through financial and technical support and through advancing infrastructure, from roads, bridges and power plants, to water supply, hospitals, housing and much more. Equally as important in our work is to achieve development in a sustainable, climate-friendly way. We can’t build a road where local flora or fauna is threated unless we have adequate mitigation measures.

Two-thirds of the Latin American population live in cities and almost 80% in urban areas. This is how Latin America is positioned as the most urbanized region of the developing world, which means that by the year 2050, nine out of ten Latin Americans will live in cities. Rapid urbanization brings opportunities for subnational governments towards sustainable development. The impacts of climate change are increasingly evident, and every year there are more victims and economic damages.

In 2017, tourism generated more than 10% of global GDP, 1 in 10 jobs, 6.5% of total exports and 4.5% of total investment. That same year, Latin America and the Caribbean received more than 114 million international visitors. However, the market share of LAC worldwide remains low, similar to the level ten years ago (around 8%). Given the region´s tourism potential, and the prospects of growth for the tourism sector worldwide, it is crucial that LAC governments strengthen their commitment to tourism and its sustainable development.

Uruguay inaugurated Latin America’s first electric highway along its coast earlier this year. Charging points line the route affording drivers greater confidence to travel in electric vehicles, which represent a key solution for confronting climate change. Last month, just down the road in Montevideo at the Latin American and Caribbean Climate Week, there was also growing confidence in the ability of climate changes policies to secure broader development goals.

Most of us have dreamed about having a flying car to escape the traffic or just to enjoy mesmerizing views from above. It’s 2018 and it seems like flying cars are finally here, but why aren’t many people buying them? I’m sure there are several good reasons why—at least for now—and going over them can help us understand why small farmers are slow to adopt new technologies such as self-guided tractors, drones and many apps out there.

Your government wants to increase gasoline prices. Are you in? If you are like most people, the answer is no. You commute using public transport, or maybe you use your own car. Either way, a gasoline price hike may hurt your budget. Research conducted at the Inter-American Development Bank shows there could be an affordable way for governments to make you love gasoline price hikes.

The time has come to plan your much-desired vacation, at last! Where do you start? Reading your favorite travel blog and its recommendations? Researching about the destinations where those wonderful photos posted by your friends on Instagram were taken? Or looking for the best flight deals online? No matter which way you want to go around it, at some point in this planning process, you will use technology. Have you thought about how technology changed the way we organize and enjoy our trips?