March 3rd was World Wildlife Day, in honor of the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora or “CITES”. World Wildlife Day celebrates and raises awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. The theme for 2018 is “Big cats: predators under threat”. Big cats are a part of the biodiversity and culture of Latin America.
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB)’s Environmental Safeguards Compliance Policy requires consultations with the beneficiaries/affected communities as part of the environmental assessment in Bank-funded operations. At the same time, environmental legislation in Bolivia recognizes the importance of citizen participation in specific decision-making processes related to projects, works or activities, as long as they are channeled through the Territorial Grassroots Organizations (OTBs, after their Spanish initials).
On February 20 we celebrated World Day of Social Justice, an international day currently observed by the United Nations that reflects on guaranteeing fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and fundamental principles and rights at work.
The Environmental and Social Safeguards Unit (ESG) of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is pleased to announce the launch of a new learning platform on managing environmental and social risks. With this new feature, all our online courses are in one place. In 2016, ESG began offering online training to increase the capacity of counterpart government officials who review and approve Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.
The thriving cities of tomorrow will be sustainable cities. To meet the new demands and opportunities of rapid urbanization, climate change and technology, they will need innovative urban services that address challenges such as getting people from home to work safely and efficiently, lighting streets more cost-effectively, or reducing runoff and risk of flooding. Alternative sustainable service solutions and innovations exist today, including transit-oriented development, LED street lighting, pervious surfaces, and capture and reuse strategies.
How can businesses, large and small, make their supply chains more climate resilient and simultaneously more profitable? Almost any supply chain, but particularly those that are dependent on natural resources, will experience the impacts of a changing climate in all its parts.
“We will reach a point in the next years where we won’t have water for the population, nor for the industries or businesses”. This somber forecast by Alfonso Martinez Muñoz, Undersecretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the State of Nuevo León, has propelled a collaboration among a range of stakeholders in the city of Monterrey to come up with solutions to better manage the water supply. Monterrey is located in the state of Nuevo León, where dry and semi-dry climates predominate, making it highly vulnerable to scarcity or lack of water.