Public-private partnerships in renewable energy in Latin America and the Caribbean

The versatility of electricity, which can be transformed into heat, light or mechanical movement, makes it a very valuable form of energy. It can be used to light a home, cook food or move machinery in productive processes. Access to electricity is thus crucial for human and economic development. In the 1980s and 1990s, Latin America and the Caribbean substantially reformed the electricity sector. During this process, most of the countries in the region privatized all or part of the sector, which historically had been in the hands of the state. Thus, private companies largely took charge of el…

Renewable energies potential in Jamaica

Jamaica has abundant renewable energy sources (RES), which have hardly been tapped in the past and could provide for large shares of the future energy requirements. In 2005, around 5% of the expected 4,020 GWh of electricity produced will be based on RES (wind and hydropower). With the new planned target of a share of 15% RES electricity by 2012, a combined renewable capacity of about 175 MW would need to be installed in that year. There is further wind potential on Jamaica, even if no exact figures can be given on the magnitude of the exploitable wind potential. Nonetheless, it seems realisti…

Renewable energy sources in Latin America and the Caribbean: situation and policy proposals

The World Summit on Sustainable Development, held in Johannesburg, August 2002, responded to a new cycle of global meetings that began with the Millennium Summit. The main characteristic of this new cycle is that the focus of the debate has moved away from declarations of principle toward identifying objectives and areas of concrete action, with quantitative commitments and deadlines for compliance. Debates about energy held an important position in Johannesburg. The positive links between access to energy, eliminating poverty and improving People's health and quality of life were emphasi…

Renewable energy and energy efficiency in Latin America and the Caribbean: constraints and prospects

Summary In Latin America, energy efficiency and renewable energy offer great potential for reducing the negative effects of the ever-increasing rates of energy consumption associated with economic growth and the move towards more energy-intensive societal models. Despite over two decades of discussions aimed at giving energy efficiency and renewable energy more prominent positions in the energy policies of Latin American countries, little has been achieved so far. The fact that these issues have not been integrated into energy policies reflects, to a certain extent, a failure on t…

América Latina y el Caribe deberá acelerar el paso para lograr el cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible hacia 2030

América Latina y el Caribe deberá acelerar el paso para lograr el cumplimiento de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) de la Agenda 2030, alertaron hoy los representantes de los 33 países de la región, de agencias de las Naciones Unidas y organismos regionales, multilaterales y de la sociedad civil presentes en la Sexta Reunión del Foro de los Países de América Latina y el Caribe sobre el Desarrollo Sostenible, que finalizó este viernes 28 de abril en la sede central de la CEPAL en Santiago, Chile. Al cierre de la reunión los delegados insistieron en que, si bien nos encontramos en la …

Digital Transformation as a Coping Strategy To Deal With The Fallout From The Pandemic In The Caribbean

Caribbean economies have been disrupted by the pandemic and the fallout from the war in Ukraine. Therefore, in the short to medium-term, there is need for policies to deal with post-pandemic recovery, including strengthened health and safety protocols, social protection measures and managed economic reopening to stimulate growth and employment.…

Competitividad, sostenibilidad e inclusión social en la agricultura: nuevas direcciones en el diseño de políticas en América Latina y el Caribe

En el presente libro se intenta encontrar respuestas a preguntas referidas al desarrollo agrícola que se repiten, con variaciones, en investigaciones y foros de políticas; por ejemplo, ¿cómo incrementar la competitividad de las agriculturas regionales, disminuyendo al mismo tiempo la inequidad social y la pobreza? ¿Cómo hacer más sostenible este proceso de desarrollo de la agricultura? ¿Cuáles son los esquemas institucionales más apropiados para impulsar el desarrollo agropecuario y del mundo rural? ¿Cuál es el rol de los actores sociales en las nuevas estructuras de gobernanza? Para responder…

Biofuels potential in Guyana

Abstract Guyana depends on imported fuel to meet the needs of its transport sector. In recent years, pricesof derivatives of petroleum have increased significantly, further widening the current account deficit. In 2005, fuel accounted for 29% of the value of imports of the country. The technology of using ethanol mixed with gasoline in four-stroke cycle engines is wellknown, and, does not require any changes in vehicles for levels of ethanol in the mixture up to 10%. This technology is used in many countries with vehicle fleets, similar to those of Guyana. The sugarcane industry of Guyana cons…

Competencia y regulación de las telecomunicaciones: el caso de Honduras

Este documento fue preparado por Marlon Ramsses Tábora, consultor de la Unidad de Comercio Internacional e Industria de la Sede Subregional de la CEPAL en México, en el marco del Proyecto IDRC/CEPAL, Reforzando la competencia en el Istmo centroamericano: Políticas e instituciones nacionales, coordinación regional y participación en negociaciones internacionales (CAN/04/001). Competition and regulation of  telecommunications: the case of Honduras Abstract: This report was put together by Marion Ramsses Tábora, consultant for the Unit of Internation Trade and Industry for the Mex…

Concentration in liner shipping: its causes and impacts for ports and shipping services in developing regions

Abstract Concentration in liner shipping means that relatively larger shipping companies are increasing their market share at the expense of the remaining smaller players. Although this process is not new, it has gained strength and is particularly affecting ports and shipping services in developing regions. Because trade is growing as a proportion of world GDP, governments and international organizations attach an increasing priority to improving ports and shipping services. This leads to deregulation, which, together with technological advances, increases the incentives for shipping companie…

Bridging infrastructural gaps in Central America: prospects and potential for maritime transport

Abstract Central America needs a regular, flexible, safe and affordable infrastructure and transport services in order to prevail over the existing bottlenecks and constrained intra-regional trade patterns. This need is widely recognized to achieve a sustained economic development, both national and regionally. Today, Central American countries face the following problems in their transport systems: lack of sufficient transport infrastructure and high transport costs. These problems have led to a decline in the competitiveness of the regional economies and sluggish economic growth …

Strategies for Post COVID-19 Recovery in the Caribbean