Review of the economics of climate change (RECC) in the Caribbean project: Phase I climate change profiles in select Caribbean countries

These reports are the result of consultations which were conducted in 2008 in Aruba, Barbados, Netherlands Antilles, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. The objective was to obtain relevant information that would inform a Stern-type report where the economics of climate change would be examined for the Caribbean subregion. These reports will be complimented by future assessments of the costs of the “business as usual”, adaptation and mitigation responses to the potential impacts of climate change. It is anticipated that the information containe…

Regional Panorama: Latin America. Megacities and sustainability

The Latin America megacities and sustainability panorama is an effort aimed to understand the complex urban processes and to discuss urban risks under sustainability criteria. In order to define research agendas as well as for policy design purposes, a closer look at the challenges of metropolitan areas in Latin America requires an identification of common urban trends in the region. Although metropolitan cities and regions in LAC present common problems and challenges, the intensity of specific aspects related to sustainability changes from one city to another. The present report discusses th…

Regional Climate Modelling In The Caribbean

The information here represents a compilation of existing and ongoing regional and national climate modelling studies that could be useful in the execution of the regional project The Economics of Climate Change in Caribbean. The report is mainly focused on the sustainable regional efforts that represent opportunities for further developments in climate change scenarios. It describes the different techniques that have been used to model changes in temperature and precipitation in the Caribbean and compares the outputs of these models. Essentially, temperatures are expected to increase while pr…

Reforma fiscal verde permitirá preservar el medio ambiente y construir desarrollo más equitativo

(10 de noviembre, 2010) La urgente necesidad de cerrar las brechas de desigualdad que actualmente existen en América Latina y el Caribe debe complementarse con el imperativo de lograr un desarrollo sostenible más bajo en carbono, señaló hoy en Alemania la Secretaria Ejecutiva de la CEPAL, Alicia Bárcena. La alta funcionaria de las Naciones Unidas participó en el Foro América Latina y el Caribe-Unión Europea (ALC-UE): Política fiscal y economía ambientalmente sostenible en el contexto del cambio climático, que se desarrolla en Berlín, convocado por el Ministerio Federal de Cooperación Económica…

CEPAL destaca políticas para lograr economías bajas en carbono

(9 de abril, 2010) La Secretaria Ejecutiva de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL), Alicia Bárcena, destacó las políticas y estrategias que podrían implementarse para superar los déficits en materia de servicios sanitarios y vivienda en la región y para la promoción de economías bajas en carbono que ayuden a un desarrollo sostenible de los países. La alta funcionaria de las Naciones Unidas participó en dos sesiones del Foro Económico Mundial para América Latina 2010, que se realizó en Cartagena, Colombia, tituladas "Erradicando los déficits de vivienda" y "Hacia una pr…

Crisis económica y cambio climático: algunas implicancias para el sistema multilateral de comercio

En el presente artículo se examinan los principales tipos de medidas restrictivas del comercio adoptadas o anunciadas en el mundo desde la irrupción de la crisis económica en septiembre de 2008 hasta fines de 2009, incluyendo aquellas vinculadas con el combate al cambio climático. A partir de esta revisión se esbozan algunas implicancias para el sistema multilateral de comercio estructurado en torno a la Organización Mundial del Comercio (OMC). Se concluye que el rol de la OMC como foro de liberalización del comercio, entendida en el sentido tradicional de la reducción de barreras arancelaria…

Analysis of extreme events in the Caribbean 1990-2008

This study presents an analysis of extreme events in the Caribbean subregion for the period 1990 to 2008, and forms part of a similar, wider study focused on the Latin America and the Caribbean region (Central America and South America being the other two subregional components). It explores the economic costs of climate change through an examination of adaptation costs to extreme events. ECLAC, through its Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, is pleased to have been able to undertake this study with the financial support of DFID and to have ensured its successful execution in collabora…

Evaluation of the meeting on promoting energy effeiciency in the Caribbean

The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), in collaboration with the Caribbean Development Bank, convened the meeting “Promoting Energy Efficiency in the Caribbean” on 13–14 May 2010 at its Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The meeting had its genesis in the convening of consultations in 2009 with Latin American and Caribbean countries, members of the Latin American Energy Agency, and resulted in a report calling for greater awareness of energy efficiency among Caribbean countries, so as to provide the impetus of the de…

Evaluación del potencial de reducción de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI) y producción de energía a partir de rellenos sanitarios y vertederos en ciudades de Costa Rica

El estudio Evaluación del potencial de reducción de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI); y producción de energía a partir de rellenos sanitarios y vertederos en ciudades de Costa Rica fue financiado por la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL); y coordinado por el Ministerio de Ambiente, Energía y Telecomunicaciones (MINAET);. Se analizaron, por medio de las metodologías y herramientas aprobadas del Mecanismo de Desarrollo limpio (MDL);, y de reuniones, visitas y entrevistas, las emisiones futuras de GEI en los sitios de disposición de residuos sólidos, …

Cambio climático y retos para el sector turismo de Centroamérica

En los 15 años anteriores a la crisis económica de 2008 y 2009, el turismo había sido muy dinámico a nivel mundial. En algunos países en desarrollo se ha promovido activamente esta área con éxito. Entre estos países se encuentran varios de Centroamérica, entre los que se destacan Costa Rica y Panamá, pues en 2008, dicha actividad generó más de 8% de sus respectivos PIB. El turismo es una categoría muy amplia, que incluye el turismo de ocio, las visitas de negocio y las familiares, pero en general las estadísticas subregionales no proveen información para estos distintos nichos de mercado…

Sustainable development from a human rights perspective and the challenges it represents for the Caribbean SIDS (a discussion paper)

This report is commissioned by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, with the overall purpose of examining the extent to which the pursuit of sustainable development in the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is guided by human rights considerations and, more specifically, to what extent human rights principles, norms, and standards are being integrated and mainstreamed in development programmes and projects, following a rights-based approach to development. For ECLAC itself, this is a relatively new approach…

Institutional report of the ECLAC subregional headquaters for the Caribbean on the support provided to Caribbean small island developing states for the implementation of the Mauritius strategy

This paper presents a review of the support provided by the ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean to small island developing States in the Caribbean for the further implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action. This report forms part of the MSI+5 Review and addresses structural support through the establishment of the Regional Coordinating Mechanism and the Technical Advisory Committee, and the applied research conducted by ECLAC which is intended to lead to policy implementation.…

An assessment of global economic models for climate change

The project comprises three phases of which Phase I would be implemented over the period September to December 2008. The major objectives of Phase I are, firstly, to establish the scope and feasibility of carrying out a study on the costs/benefits of taking action on climate change adaptation and cost effectiveness of mitigation in the Caribbean compared to a “business as usual” scenario, and secondly, to support initial actions to alert policymakers and key influencing constituencies to the urgency of this challenge.…

Caribbean regional report for the five-year review of the Mauritius strategy for the further implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action for the sustainable development of small island developing states (MSI +5)

The small island developing States (SIDS) of the Caribbean referred to in this report comprise Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, The Netherlands Antilles, Trinidad and Tobago and the United States Virgin Islands. As far back as 1994, these countries expressed commitment to implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA) for SIDS and have reiterated their support in making progress in achieving the targets set…

Paraguay's Tekoporã programme for cash transfers: debating targeting methods for beneficiaries

Climate change and challenges for tourism in Central America

Tourism has been a very dynamic activity worldwide over the last fifteen years (until the 2008-2009 economic crisis);. Some developing countries have been very active in promoting this activity and have been successful. Among these countries are several from the Central American region, where tourism accounted for more than 8% of Costa Rican and Panamanian GDP in 2006. Tourism is a very broad activity, which includes leisure, business and family visits, but statistics for this region do not allow a distinction between these categories. Some countries are more specialized in leisu…