We live in a world full of uncertainties. The COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine are but two of the last examples. Climate change similarly comes with uncertainties, and we are seeing it with what happened in Texas in the last winter for instance: an unexpected change of “normal” climate conditions generated a serious humanitarian crisis due to the collapse of the power … [Read more...] about How do we rethink water planning in the face of a future shaped by climate change?
Rethinking private financing of climate action with Chile
A central theme of the talks at the Glasgow climate summit is how countries can mobilize the private sector to finance decarbonization. In a workshop that the IDB group organized with Fundación Chile yesterday , we discussed some solutions – beyond green financial regulations, concessional climate funds, and carbon markets – that are often overlooked in … [Read more...] about Rethinking private financing of climate action with Chile
How can we plan for agriculture and land-use policies consistent with net-zero emissions development?
The entire GDP of Thailand. That is what governments globally spend every year on harmful agriculture subsidies. That is 470 billion dollars per year that incentivize the overuse of fertilizers, water, or expansion of agricultural land into other ecosystems, with associated costs on the environment and the health of farmers and consumers. This recent finding from a joint UN-FAO … [Read more...] about How can we plan for agriculture and land-use policies consistent with net-zero emissions development?
Are Latin America’s fossil fuels at risk of becoming stranded assets this decade?
The recent apocalyptic image of the ocean on fire in the Gulf of Mexico following a raptured gas pipeline was reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings. Yet the world’s reliance on fossil fuels and their disastrous impact on global warming and the environment is far from fantasy. The burning of coal, oil and gas is the dominant source of greenhouse gas emissions driving the … [Read more...] about Are Latin America’s fossil fuels at risk of becoming stranded assets this decade?
Carbon neutrality could provide Peru with US$140 billion in net benefits
Peru has been severely hit by the pandemic and faces one of the deepest crises of the last 50 years. In addition to the highest mortality per person in the world, during 2020 the country suffered an economic impact equivalent to more than 20% of GDP (US$ 35.8 billion). Meanwhile, unprecedented heat waves in North America and floods in Europe remind us that another crisis … [Read more...] about Carbon neutrality could provide Peru with US$140 billion in net benefits