An assessment of the economic and social impacts of climate change on the Coastal and Marine Sector in the Caribbean

Climate change poses special challenges for Caribbean decision makers related to the uncertainties inherent in future climate projections and the complex linkages between climate change, physical and biological systems, and socioeconomic sectors. At present, however, the Caribbean subregion lacks the adaptive capacity needed to address these challenges. The present report assesses the economic and social impacts of climate change on the coastal and marine sector in the Caribbean until 2050. It aims both to provide Caribbean decision makers with cutting edge information on the vulnerability to …

An assessment of the economic and social impacts of climate change on the tourism sector in the Caribbean

There are significant, fundamental changes taking place in global air and sea surface temperatures and sea levels. The Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change noted that many of the warmest years on the instrumental record of global surface temperatures have occurred within the last twelve years, i.e. 1995-2006 (IPCC, 2007). The Caribbean tourism product is particularly vulnerable to climate change. On the demand side, mitigation measures in other countries – for example, measures to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels – could have implications for airfares…

An assessment of the economic and social impacts of climate change on the agriculture sector in the Caribbean

The main objective of the present study was to determine the value of impacts due to climate change on the agricultural sector in the Caribbean under the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios A2 and B2 scenarios. More specifically, the study aimed to evaluate the direction and magnitude of the potential impacts of climate change on aggregate agricultural output and other key agricultural indicators. Further, the study forecast changes in income for agricultural output for key subsectors under the A2 and B2 scenarios, from 2011 to 2050. It analysed the …

An assessment of the economic and social impacts of climate change on the health sector in the Caribbean

Climate change affects the fundamental bases of good human health, which are clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food, and secure shelter. Climate change is known to impact health through three climate dimensions: extreme heat, natural disasters, and infections and diseases. The temporal and spatial climatic changes that will affect the biology and ecology of vectors and intermediate hosts are likely to increase the risks of disease transmission. The greatest effect of climate change on disease transmission is likely to be observed at the extremes of the range of temperatures at which t…

An assessment of the economic and social impacts of climate change on the energy sector in the Caribbean

The present report assesses the economic and social impacts of climate change on the energy sector in Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. In the study, the Artificial Neural Network methodology was employed to model the relationship between climate change and energy demand. The viability of the actions proposed were assessed using cost benefit analyses based on models from the National Renewable Energy …

Report of the first meeting of the focal points appointed by the governments of the signatory countries of the declaration on the application of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean, Sant...

Municipal solid waste management in the Caribbean: a benefit-cost analysis

Waste management is one of the least recognized public policy issues in the Caribbean. Quite apart from the obvious physical unattractiveness of the business, waste management often competes with more pressing economic and social issues such as fiscal and trade matters, unemployment and poverty, education and health, and crime and security. Even within the domain of environmental sustainability, the management of waste has had to play second fiddle to more apparently manifest challenges such as land and coastal degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Waste management, however, rema…

Plan of action to 2014 for the implementation of the declaration on the application of principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean and its road map. Guadalajara, Mexico, 17 April 2013

European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean: investments for growth, social inclusion and environmental sustainability

This document is a contribution by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) to the preparatory process for the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union, which will be held in Santiago on 26 and 27 January 2013. It seeks to provide a broad and well-informed view of the main dimensions of development in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union, as well as an insight into the central theme of the Summit: investments for economic growth, social inclusion a…

Climate change and reduction of CO2 emissions: the role of developing countries in carbon trade markets

The Kyoto Protocol provides a framework for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from industrialized nations. These reduction targets will have economic impacts that will affect not only those industrialized countries but also other developing countries around the world. In this context, the following document analyzes the economic implications of the reduction of carbon emissions from industrialized countries (Annex I countries under the Kyoto Protocol) and the participation of developing countries, including those in Latin America, under different carbon trading scenarios. The document …

CEPAL Review Special Chinese Edition.

Regional environmental policy and sustainable tourism development in the Caribbean

Tourism began to emerge in the Caribbean from the mid-1960s, and since that time, the sector experienced consistent growth so as to make it the major economic sector in the region by the early 1990s. While several factors such as the development of air travel, and closeness to the major source markets of the United States of America contributed to the strong growth in Caribbean tourism, the region's warm weather as well as pristine natural environments comprising of beaches, coral reefs, spectacular scenery and friendly peoples have undoubtedly contributed to the development of the touris…

Report of the Expert Group Meeting to develop an action plan for sustainable statistical capacity development in the Caribbean

RIO +20 and the way forward for the Caribbean: Delivering "The Future We Want"

Structural change for equality: an integrated approach to development. Thirty-four session of ECLAC. Summary

In today's complex and changing global context, the Latin American and Caribbean region must persevere, more than ever, in three directions: structural change to underpin progress towards more knowledge-intensive sectors, convergence to reduce internal and external gaps in income and productivity, and equality of rights. This is the integrated approach proposed by ECLAC as a route towards the development the region needs. This implies tackling three major challenges: to achieve high and sustained rates of growth so as to close structural gaps and generate quality jobs; to change consumpti…

Structural change for equality: an integrated approach to development. Thirty-four session of ECLAC

In today's complex and changing global context, the Latin American and Caribbean region must persevere, more than ever, in three directions: structural change to underpin progress towards more knowledge-intensive sectors, convergence to reduce internal and external gaps in income and productivity, and equality of rights. This is the integrated approach proposed by ECLAC as a route towards the development the region needs. This implies tackling three major challenges: to achieve high and sustained rates of growth so as to close structural gaps and generate quality jobs; to change consumpti…

Population, territory and sustainable development

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of current trends, contexts and issues in the spheres of population, territory and sustainable development and examine their public policy implications. Three themes run through the report. The first two are laid out in the empirical chapters (III through X); the third is taken up in the closing chapter. Using the most recent data available (including censuses conducted in the 2010s), the first theme describes and tracks location and spatial mobility patterns for the population of Latin America, focusing on certain kinds of territory. The …

Reflections on the population and development agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean beyond 2014

Sustainable development 20 years on from the earth summit: progress, gaps and strategic guidelines for Latin America and the Caribbean. Summary

Sustainable development 20 years on from the earth summit: progress, gaps and strategic guidelines for Latin America and the Caribbean

In December 2009 the General Assembly adopted resolution 64/236 and agreed to convene the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil in June 2012. This Conference, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro 20 years after the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, or the Earth Summit, represents a historic opportunity to take stock of developments over the past two decades, assess the progress made and the difficulties encountered and explore new forms of cooperation capable of expediting the transition towards sustainable development. The Member States have al…