Virtual event "The role of climate action in the recovery from the COVID 19 crisis"

The countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are facing a complex scenario that demands a debate about the urge for accelerating job creation and economic growth strategies that help to alleviate the social impact of the crisis caused by the pandemic. However, an economic recovery, with the same environmental effects as the ones before the pandemic, would lead to deepening the climate crisis with long-term impacts.

Based on this scenario, the Executive Secretary of ECLAC invites you to participate in the event "The role of climate action in the COVID 19 crisis recovery" to inform and analyze along with the responsible authorities related to the environment and climate change in several countries of Latin America and the Caribbean about the opportunities associated with the climate agenda in the countries’ debate about the economic recovery in the context of COVID- 19.

With the aim of seeking collective solutions to global problems such as the health crisis and the climate crisis in the context of a paradigm shift in development, the discussion will be opened by the Executive Secretary of ECLAC, Alicia Bárcena, and will include the participation of the new Special Advisor to the Secretary General and Assistant Secretary General of the Climate Action team Mr. Selwin Hart. He will also be accompanied by the Minister of Environment of Chile and President of COP 25 of the UNFCCC, Mrs. Carolina Schmidt and the Regional Director of the United Nations Environment Program in Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Leo Heileman. These people will be joined by representatives of eight environmental authorities from Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss COVID 19 crisis recovery initiatives that strengthen the sustainable development of the countries.

Please see below the programme to contextualize the dialogue and the guiding questions of the debate:

• In which sectors should the recovery agenda be focused to advance the economic recovery, generate employment and contribute to the country's decarbonization objectives?
• What are the main barriers to a green recovery agenda?
• Are there spaces for cooperation among LAC countries for sustainable economic recovery?