Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean. Accessible format

On 4 March 2018, the Latin American and Caribbean region made history when it adopted the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean, at Escazú, Costa Rica. The Regional Agreement is a ground-breaking legal instrument for environmental protection, but it is also a human rights treaty. Its main beneficiaries are the people of the Latin American and Caribbean region, particularly the most vulnerable groups and communities. It aims to ensure the right of all persons to have access to information in a ti…

The Challenge of Accelerating the 2030 Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean: Transitions towards Sustainability. Summary

Enormous challenges face the countries of the region. The risk of straying further from the path towards sustainable development is clear. There is no time for pause, let alone for setbacks. In this context, ECLAC reiterates its commitment to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs by 2030, by holding the annual meetings of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, providing support for the conduct of voluntary national and local reviews on progress and challenges in relation to the SDGs, offering technical cooperation in various fields, and ot…

The Challenge of Accelerating the 2030 Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean: Transitions towards Sustainability

The second half of the implementation period agreed for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is now under way. To this end, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) presents herein the seventh report on regional progress and challenges in relation to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Latin America and the Caribbean. The background to this report is a difficult global context characterized by various persistent crises that have been unfolding for several years in connection with slow economic and trade growth, climate change, forced migrations, geopol…

Report of the Second Annual Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Second Annual Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean was held in Panama City from 26 to 28 September 2023. This document contains the official report of the Second Annual Forum and summarizes the various panels, discussions and presentations. It also catalogues the proposals put forward by the breakout groups, which will serve as input for the preparation of the action plan on human rights defenders in environmental matters of the Escazú Agreement.…

A stock-flow ecological model for Central America

This article presents a stock-flow consistent model for the Central American economies. It is part of a project to develop a stock-flow consistent workhorse model applicable to different country cases in Latin America and the Caribbean. The model’s logical and behavioural relationships are based on a set of stylized facts characterizing the Central American economies. The model includes five institutional sectors (consumers, firms, the government, the central bank and the rest of the world). The five sectors trade in seven financial assets: (i) public debt issued in domestic and foreign curren…

CEPAL Review No. 142

The Hummingbird Vol. 11 No. 4

The expected effects of climate change on the current account of Colombia

This study examines the expected effects of climate change on the current account of Colombia. We present a literature review that explains how the associated risks affect the balance of payments. We then project the current account balance until 2050 in different climate scenarios to establish whether the impact of these risks could affect the country’s current account over the long term. Our results indicate that, compared with a scenario in which current climate policies are maintained, achieving net zero emissions by 2050 could widen the current account deficit by the equivalent of 4.6% of…

Institutional strengthening and sustainable financing for Latin American and Caribbean cities: statements delivered at the thirty-second General Assembly of the Forum of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Housing and Urbanism in Latin America and ...

The Forum of Ministers and High-level Authorities of Housing and Urbanism of Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI) is the highest institution of coordination and intergovernmental cooperation for the countries in the region when it comes to housing, urban planning and sustainable urban development. Its General Assemblies are annual instances aimed to promote the exchange of experiences, good practices and lessons learned by member countries, as well as other key actors interested in housing and urban development. In addition, this Forum allows the formation of alliances and launching of ne…

Exploring the notion of a Caribbean emissions trading scheme: financing the greening of Caribbean economies

Between 2000 and 2019 the Caribbean Community produced between 0.11 and 0.16% of global emissions. However, despite being only minor emitters these countries find themselves highly exposed to the impact of climate change, increasingly vulnerable to floods, droughts, rising temperatures, rising sea-levels, hurricanes and coral bleaching etc. Furthermore, CARICOM Member States have submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC). The subregion has, however, lagged behind in the receipt of grant and concessionary su…

The Hummingbird Vol. 11 No. 3

Educating the future workforce

Report of the Twenty-First Meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Caribbean Development and Cooperation Committee

Regionale Overeenkomst inzake Toegang tot Informatie, Publieke Participatie en Rechtvaardigheid in Milieuaangelegenheden in Latijns-Amerika en het Caribisch gebied

Op 4 maart 2018 heeft de Latijns-Amerikaanse en Caribische regio geschiedenis geschreven toen zij in Escazú, Costa Rica, de Regionale Overeenkomst inzake Toegang tot Informatie, Publieke Participatie en Rechtvaardigheid in Milieuaangelegenheden in Latijns-Amerika en het Caribisch gebied aannam. De Regionale Overeenkomst, geïnitieerd op de Conferentie van de Verenigde Naties inzake Duurzame Ontwikkeling (Rio+20) en geworteld in de beginselen van Principe 10 van de Verklaring van Rio inzake Milieu en Ontwikkeling van 1992, is de vrucht van een twee jaar durende voorbereidende fase en negen inten…

The Hummingbird Vol. 11 No. 2

Framework legislation on climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean. Legislative Bulletin

Climate change is a key issue on the parliamentary agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean, and its proper management can boost economic development and foster social inclusion in the region. Legislators belonging to the Parliamentary Observatory on Climate Change and Just Transition (OPCC) therefore requested their parliamentary teams, under the supervision of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) office in Brasilia, to prepare this document, which analyses the framework legislation on climate change in eight countries, selected according to criteria of diversi…

The Hummingbird Vol. 11 No. 1

Progress in implementation of the Samoa Pathway: Caribbean regional synthesis report

This Report provides an overview of the implementation of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway adopted in 2014 in Caribbean SIDS. It assesses the progress, made as well as the gaps and challenges Caribbean SIDS experienced in implementing the Samoa Pathway. Recommendations on how these gaps and challenges could be addressed in future iterations of the SIDS Programme of Action are also defined. The Report further outlines emerging issues and potential priority actions that the subregion may wish to consider in its preparation for the Fourth …

Artificial Intelligence for Caribbean Sustainable Development

Sustainable bond issuances in international markets, 2014–2022: characteristics, trends and greenium in Latin America and the Caribbean

This document examines the evolution of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)’s international issuance of sustainable bonds —green, social, sustainability and sustainability-linked bonds (GSSS)— since the region’s first international green bond was issued in December 2014. Reaching a cumulative total international GSSS bond issuance of US$ 100 billion in the 2014-2022 period, four main trends are identified. First, the share of GSSS bonds in the region’s total international bond issuance has increased significantly, jumping from less than 1% in 2018 to 32% in 2022. Second, while initially most…