Caribbean policymakers are faced with
special challenges from climate change and
these are related to the uncertainties
inherent in future climate projections and
the complex linkages among climate
change, physical and biological systems
and socioeconomic sectors. The impacts of climate
change threaten development in the Caribbean
and may well erode previous gains in development
as evidenced by the increased incidence of climate
migrants internationally. This brief which is based
on a recent study conducted by the Economic
Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
(LC/CAR/L.395)1 provides…
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…
The current energy systems within Curaçao depend primarily on high cost, imported fossil fuels, and typically constitute power sectors that are characterized by small, inefficient generation plants which result in high energy prices. As a consequence of its dependence on external fuel supplies, Curaçao is extremely vulnerable to international oil price shocks, which can impact on economic planning and foreign direct investment within their industrial sectors. The ability of the successive governments to source capital for economic stimulation and social investment is therefore significantly ch…
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…
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 …
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…
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(21 de enero, 2013) Connotados economistas de América Latina y Europa se dieron cita en la sede de la Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL) en Santiago, Chile, para debatir sobre las oportunidades y los desafíos que presenta la relación birregional en el actual escenario de turbulencias internacionales.
El evento se realiza en el marco de la I Cumbre de la Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños y la Unión Europea (CELAC-UE), que reunirá a representantes de 60 países los días 26 y 27 de enero en la capital chilena.
El Foro Económico América L…
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 …
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(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 …
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…
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…
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…
En el Anuario Estadístico de América Latina y el Caribe de la CEPAL se presenta un conjunto de estadísticas básicas que caracterizan la situación económica, sociodemográfica y ambiental de la región referidas a un período en particular. Esta información es parte del conjunto de estadísticas disponibles en CEPALSTAT, el portal de bases de datos y publicaciones estadísticas de la CEPAL.
La presente edición del Anuario contiene datos que se encontraban disponibles hasta mediados de diciembre de 2013. Como novedad se han incluido perfiles regionales a modo de resumen para cada una de las áreas, a …
The eclac-Climate Impacts Assessment Model (CIAM) is a modelling platform that
has been created to assess the economic consequences of climate change in the
Caribbean. The model can be freely accessed, downloaded and even modified.
The version available is a full-fledged model which can readily be used to conduct
simulation exercises. This paper provides a general description of the model and
an illustrative simulation exercise. Our results from this exercise highlight the fact
that the Caribbean is a highly vulnerable region where climate change is expected
to generate sizeable and negative e…
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…
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…