An assessment of fiscal and regulatory barriers to deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies in Belize

Belize is currently faced with several critical challenges associated with the production, distribution and use of energy. Despite an abundance of renewable energy resources, the country remains disproportionately dependent on imported fossil fuels, which exposes it to volatile and rising oil prices, limits economic development, and retards its ability to make the investments that are necessary for adapting to climate change, which pose a particularly acute threat to the small island states and low-lying coastal nations of the Caribbean. This transition from energy consumption and supply patte…

Towards an integrative approach to sustainability: exploring potential synergies between gender and environment

In the midst of one of the worst economic crises the Western world has faced, governments are focusing on macroeconomic equilibrium and failing to address the economy-environment disconnect and the social components of development. The ecological degradation of our planet and its implications for human well-being necessitate a sustainable approach. Although some progress has been made since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, we have yet to adopt a development path that takes account of the way that ecosystems work or the persistent social and gender inequalit…

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 …

Generating inclusive and sustainable growth: the role of policy and multilevel fiscal institutions

Sustainable growth strategies depend critically on the role of the state in different societies, and the incentive structures associated with alternative institutional arrangements. In particular, in multi-level countries, incentive structure matter even more, as elements of game play between different levels of government becomes possible. Under these circumstances, organizational structures borrowed from advanced countries may not function as expected and could generate deleterious incentives. This paper focuses on the institutions and governance issues as preconditions for susta…

ECLAC and GIZ Signed Contract to Implement Joint Programme on Sustainable Development

See photo gallery (3 October 2012) Today, the Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Alicia Bárcena, and the Director of the South America Department of the German Agency for International Cooperation (or GIZ, because of its name in German), Sabine Müller, signed the contract to implement the cooperation programme known as "Promoting low-carbon development and social cohesion in Latin America and the Caribbean". The ceremony was also attended by Jürgen Klenk, Resident Director of GIZ in Chile. The programme was agreed by ECLAC and the …

Training report #2- report on training programme conducted November 2013 in Jamaica

This project, Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean , implemented by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN-ECLAC) will support the following: - Technical assistance to three countries of the Caribbean in the evaluation of existing fiscal systems and regulations as they relate to energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies so as to identify gaps and barriers to implement these technologies and to provide options for their removal  Development of national documents on strengthening fiscal and regulatory systems for at six countries – Guy…

Training Report #1- Report on Training Programme Conducted October 2013 in Guyana

This project, Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean , implemented by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UN-ECLAC) will support the following: - Technical assistance to three countries of the Caribbean in the evaluation of existing fiscal systems and regulations as they relate to energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies so as to identify gaps and barriers to implement these technologies and to provide options for their removal  Development of national documents on strengthening fiscal and regulatory systems for at six countries – Guy…

UN Agencies Analysed Progress and Challenges in Latin American and Caribbean Countries

See photo gallery (25 January 2013) About 20 United Nations agencies represented in Latin America and the Caribbean met on Thursday 24 January at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile, to analyse the regional situation and the UN's post-2015 development agenda. At the beginning of the meeting of the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Coordination Mechanism, ECLAC Executive Secretary, Alicia Bárcena, welcomed Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, who is visiting Chile to take part in the 1st Summit o…

Agencias de la ONU analizaron avances y desafíos en los países de América Latina y el Caribe

Ver galería de fotos (25 de enero, 2013) Una veintena de agencias de las Naciones Unidas con representación en América Latina y el Caribe se dieron cita el jueves 24 de enero en la sede de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) en Santiago, Chile, para analizar la situación regional y la agenda de desarrollo de la ONU post 2015. Al inicio de la reunión del Mecanismo de Coordinación Regional para América Latina y el Caribe, la Secretaria Ejecutiva de la CEPAL, Alicia Bárcena, dio la bienvenida a Jan Eliasson, Vicesecretario General de las Naciones Unidas, quien visita Chi…

International seminar on information and communications technologies for competitiveness, social inclusion and sustainable development in Costa Rican agriculture

Complete speech by Alicia Bárcena, ECLAC Executive Secretary (PDF, 288 KB.) (in Spanish) …

Training manual: innovative fiscal and regulatory incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives

This course will be designed for the officers within government departments who have responsibilty for guiding the country’s energy policy and energy management framework. Other stakeholders also will include private sector representatives who have interest in providing energy efficiency equipment and renewable energy solutions to the market towards advancing improvements in both energy efficiency and meeting renewable energy targets. The course will provide insight into all aspects of energy management with specific emphasis on energy efficiency as well as renewable energy. Emphasis will be p…

Inauguración del Foro Económico América Latina y el Caribe-Unión Europea 2013

An assessment of green export opportunities for Barbados

Transitioning towards a green economy -one that focuses on reducing environmental risks and resource scarcities, while also improving well-being- has been put forward as one possible path towards sustainable development. While the potential advantages of pursuing a green development path are clear, moving forward on the green agenda requires guaranteed support for emerging businesses and industries. Consequently, the policy agenda will have to be tailored to these new green business areas. This study assesses various green businesses and their potential suitability for the small island State o…

BID, Banco Mundial, CEPAL y OCDE realizarán foro en México

Vea transmisión por webcast del Foro México 2013. (7 de enero, 2013) El Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID), el Banco Mundial (BM), la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) y la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económicos (OCDE) realizarán el 9 y 10 de enero de 2013 el Foro México 2013. Políticas Públicas para un Desarrollo Incluyente, en Ciudad de México. El objetivo del encuentro es apoyar al nuevo gobierno y a la sociedad mexicana en la definición de una agenda de políticas públicas compartida para incentivar el potencial de crecimiento sostenido e …